LTS’
proprietary
dissolvable
microneedle
array
patch
technology
with
mRNA
vaccines
aims
for
the
development
of
next
generation
vaccine
technologies.
Source:
LTS
LOHMANN
Therapie-Systeme
AG
The
Patch
Forward
Prize,
part
of
the
Project
NextGen
initiative
led
by
BARDA,
aims
to
accelerate
next-generation
vaccine
technologies.
By
fostering
partnerships
between
vaccine
developers
and
delivery
platform
innovators,
the
competition
drives
progress
from
concept
to
clinical
stages,
paving
the
way
for
transformative
advancements
in
global
health.
Each
of
the
prizes
announced
today
represents
an
award
of
US$
2
million,
that
will
be
shared
between
LTS
and
its
partners.
The awarded projects bring together LTS’s proprietary dissolvable Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) technology with mRNA vaccines from two partners, BioNet, a biotech manufacturer specializing in genetically engineered vaccines and PopVax, an Indian full-stack biotechnology company developing broadly-protective mRNA vaccines using machine learning-enabled computational protein design.
Both projects aim to address critical challenges in vaccine stability, delivery, and adaptability, with the potential to improve patient access and compliance. The focus will be on seasonal influenza vaccines, with the ability to pivot to pandemic strains if necessary.
BioNet’s approach tackles the ongoing challenge of influenza strain variability by developing a trivalent seasonal influenza mRNA vaccine (mIV3) that targets conserved regions of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins from dominant H1N1, H3N2, and B influenza viruses. These mRNA constructs are carefully selected to elicit broad protective immune responses against seasonal influenza.
PopVax is leading the effort to develop a seasonal influenza vaccine built on their novel mRNA-encoded immunogen display architecture and LNP platform. PopVax’s immunogen design and display approach boosts the elicited strain-specific antibody response by as much as 250x in mice in comparison with a leading approved influenza vaccine, leading to significantly lower dosage requirements. This approach also elicits a broader immune response, including robust antibody titer against pandemic H5N1 influenza, a rising threat in the United States, despite not encoding an H5N1-specific immunogen.
LTS CEO Bas van Buijtenen commented: “As a front-runner in drug delivery, we care passionately about solutions that provide better outcomes and better patient experience. We are grateful and proud that Barda’s Patch Forward prize provides an opportunity to BioNet, PopVax and LTS to create a breakthrough in vaccine administration. We look forward to delivering on the promise of the combination of our technologies through our joint programs.”
“LTS Microneedle-Array-Patch (Map)-Program is proud to have received those 2 awards together with our partners PopVax and BioNet, with their innovative mRNA technologies”, added Dr. Frank Theobald, Head of MAP Program at LTS. “The BARDA Patch Forward Price allows combination of 2 breakthrough technologies to be better prepared for the next pandemics to come. The financial support from BARDA will help to advance the MAP technology towards commercialization addressing an unmet medical need and offering the opportunity for self-administration as well as the opportunity for lowering the cold-chain requirements for mRNA.”
– Picture is available at AP –
Hashtag: #FEV
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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