Vaxxas, a company located in Brisbane, has received a phase one contract from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), acting on behalf of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) to ready for potential seasonal and pandemic influenza challenges in Europe.
This contract is a part of an international collaboration with SK bioscience and IDT Biologika.
The project will allocate up to $250 million over three competitive sequential phases as outlined in the EU 2024 EU4Health Work Programme.
The financial support will prioritize vaccines intended for easy administration via alternative delivery methods, such as Vaxxas' high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP).
The initial funding of approximately $22 million will facilitate the Consortium's development of Vaxxas' HD-MAP technology alongside SK bioscience’s seasonal flu vaccine through a clinical trial.
Additionally, there will be a pre-clinical advancement of a "clinic-ready" HD-MAP for pre-pandemic influenza.
David Peacock, the CEO of Vaxxas, stated that the tender signifies a collective goal among the Consortium and the EU to invest in alternative vaccine technologies.
This tender places Vaxxas and its partners at the leading edge of global vaccine innovation. We take pride in seeing our technology acknowledged by governments around the globe as an essential part of future public health readiness, remarked Peacock.
Furthermore, Vaxxas is in the process of conducting the largest phase one clinical trial of its HD-MAP for a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine, backed by the US Government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The Consortium's proposal was spearheaded by IDT Biologika, a European leader in the development and manufacturing of vaccines, gene therapies, and immune treatments.
Dr. Sally Choe, co-CEO of IDT Biologika, expressed that the company has over a century of experience in vaccine development and manufacturing.
By collaborating with SK bioscience and Vaxxas to enhance needle-free patch technology for flu vaccines, we are fostering new vaccination methods aimed at better safeguarding populations globally against seasonal and pandemic influenza, stated Choe.
As part of its ongoing partnership with Vaxxas, SK bioscience will provide vaccine antigens for both seasonal and pandemic influenza research.
Jaeyong Ahn, President and CEO of SK bioscience, mentioned that the initiative showcases how their global network and technological proficiencies positively affect performance.
We will actively seek opportunities for our proprietary vaccines in Europe and enhance our competitiveness in the international market through innovative delivery systems, Ahn noted.
Should phase one succeed, the Consortium will be positioned to bid for subsequent phases that include late-stage clinical trials, applications for marketing approval, and the creation of a sovereign EU manufacturing capability.
All clinical products for phase one will be produced using Vaxxas' proprietary sterile automated manufacturing systems newly set up at its biomedical facility in Brisbane.
0 Comments