One Ventures-backed Vaxxas to advance $7.2m needle-free vaccine program
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The news: Brisbane-based biotechnology company Vaxxas has secured approval from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) to advance a $US4.8 million ($7.2 million) program developing needle-free vaccines that can be stored at room temperature.
The numbers: The company's patch technology can keep vaccines stable at everyday refrigerator temperatures (2°C to 8°C) and room temperature (25°C) for at least 12 months, and at warmer temperatures (40°C) for at least one month.
Vaxxas has tested its patch technology on more than 500 people in early-stage trials for Covid-19, seasonal flu, measles and rubella vaccines.
The context: Born out of The University of Queensland in 2011, Vaxxas will work with global vaccine developer SK bioscience to advance a new type of vaccine for Japanese encephalitis virus.
The partnership aims to solve a major problem with current vaccines that need expensive freezer storage, making them hard to distribute in remote areas and developing countries. The work will begin in early 2025 and is part of CEPI's broader mission to make vaccines more accessible worldwide.
Investors include OneVentures Innovation Fund I, Brandon Capital Partners, US-based HealthCare Ventures, and The University of Queensland.
What they said: "Our technology offers a potential solution to the growing need to significantly expand global access to innovative vaccines by eliminating the current ultra-cold storage requirements," Vaxxas chief executive David Hoey said.
CEPI acting executive director of vaccine manufacturing supply chain Dr Raafat Fahim said: "The tremendous success of these vaccines in recent years provides the world with a powerful alternative to traditional vaccines for fighting global infectious diseases — but only if we can get them to the regions and people who need them most".
The source: Vaxxas media release
