University of Cambridge spin-out DIOSynVax to receive $42m to develop universal coronavirus vaccine
University of Cambridge spin-out company DIOSynVax is to receive $42million to develop a vaccine candidate that could protect against a raft of coronaviruses, including future Covid-19 variants, and help in the fight to prevent future pandemics.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the news as the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit continued in Oslo today.
The investment from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will support the development of an mRNA vaccine from DIOSynVax, which is led by Prof Jonathan Heeney, head of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics at the University of Cambridge.
The company’s vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes Covid-19 - is already in clinical trials, as the Cambridge Independent has reported.
The aim is to develop a vaccine effective against any variant, as well as other viruses from the same family, such as SARS and MERS.
And if its novel antigen design is successful using the intended mRNA platform, it could potentially enable the rapid development of vaccines against so-called Disease X – unknown pathogens with pandemic potential that have yet to emerge.
Darwin College fellow Prof Heeney said: “We are excited to be working with CEPI on its ground-breaking mission to leverage revolutionary science and technology to outmanoeuvre and minimise future pandemic threats.
“Our approach is to be ahead of the next pandemic - to deliver custom designed, immune selected vaccine antigens – which is ideal to prevent diseases caused by complex viruses such as the large and diverse family of coronaviruses. If successful, it will result in a safe, affordable next-gen vaccine for widespread use.”
DIOSynVax, set up in 2017 with support from Cambridge Enterprise, the university’s commercialisation arm, will design and select the lead antigen through proof-of-concept preclinical studies and undertake initial clinical development through Phase I/II studies.
The company uses a combination of protein structure, computational biology and immune-optimisation in its pioneering work to maximise the protection that vaccines can provide against existing and future virus outbreaks.
Its vaccine candidates are suitable for a variety of vaccine delivery and manufacturing platforms and it has been working on a ‘needle-free’ system.
Its pipeline also includes vaccine candidates for haemorrhagic fever viruses and influenza.
CEPI, DIOSynVax and the University of Cambridge said they were committed to enabling global equitable access to the vaccines developed through the partnership - something written into the funding deal.
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “The UK government and the country’s world-leading scientific institutions have been pivotal to the global response to Covid-19. From the development of the CEPI-supported Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – which is used in more countries than any other – to the ground-breaking Recovery trial to evaluate life-saving treatments like dexamethasone, British science has played a leading role in protecting the world from Covid-19.
“I am excited to further strengthen CEPI’s strong ties to British science through this partnership with DIOSynVax, Cambridge, to develop a vaccine with the potential to protect against variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other Betacoronaviruses in the future.
“Coronaviruses have now proven their pandemic potential, so it’s imperative for global health security that we invest in R&D now to future-proof the world against the threat of coronaviruses.”
The summit, which began on Monday, has brought together leaders across governments, international agencies, science and academia, industry, philanthropy, and civil society to explore how to prepare for future virtual threats.
CEPI said the investment was part of its $3.5billion pandemic preparedness plan.
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