SpyBiotech Adds Epstein-Barr Virus Research and Development Collaboration with The University of Oxford
2024年5月23日 - 5:00PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Agreement to support development of a vaccine
against EBV
SpyBiotech, a biotechnology company with novel vaccine platform
technologies that can target infectious diseases, cancer, and
chronic diseases, today announced a sponsored research agreement
with The University of Oxford for the development of a vaccine
against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a commonly spread virus
that can lead to several serious health conditions including
infectious mononucleosis and is linked to various cancers and
multiple sclerosis. This research project will combine Oxford’s
groundbreaking academic research capabilities with SpyBiotech’s
proprietary SPYVLP platform technology in order to advance three
vaccine candidates targeting EBV and test these in a Phase I
clinical trial.
“This research collaboration is an important step forward on a
commonly spread virus with no currently available vaccines or
therapeutics for its prevention or spread,” said Mark
Leuchtenberger, Chief Executive Officer of SpyBiotech. “Studies
have found that EBV triggers a range of very serious health
conditions including certain cancers and multiple sclerosis. A
recent study led by Stanford Medicine and senior author Dr. William
Robinsoni notes that 99% of MS patients have EBV antibodies in
their blood, indicating prior infection. We see a great need for a
vaccine against EBV.”
SpyBiotech’s novel SPYVLP vaccine platform is based on a
proprietary protein “superglue” technology which binds antigens to
vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimizes delivery risk
and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy. Under the terms of this
agreement, SpyBiotech will provide Oxford researchers with access
to the SPYVLP vaccine platform, and the Oxford team will work to
advance the research into a Phase 1 clinical trial to be conducted
through the University.
“We are very keen to progress these vaccine candidates that
target multiple EBV antigens to Phase I clinical trials with
Professor Sandy Douglas and his team at the Jenner Institute,
University of Oxford after seeing the promising pre-clinical data
generated,” said Sumi Biswas, Ph.D., President and CSO of
SpyBiotech.
The company is currently conducting a Phase I trial assessing
safety and immunogenicity of its HCMV vaccine. The study features a
six-month dosing schedule and is being carried out in the UK.
About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
EBV is transmitted through saliva and is one of the most
commonly spread human virusesii. Most people recover within a few
weeks, but for some individuals EBV can lead to a number of health
conditions including mononucleosis, meningitis, encephalitis and
certain cancersiii. Recent research suggests people with multiple
sclerosis and some lymphomas are more likely to have been infected
with the virus. There are no currently available vaccines or
therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of EBV.
About SpyBiotech
SpyBiotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company with novel
vaccine platform technologies to target infectious diseases, cancer
and chronic diseases. The company was spun out of the University of
Oxford in 2017 by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and Google
Ventures (GV). The company raised $32.5 million in a Series A
equity financing in 2021. Based on science developed at the
University of Oxford, SpyBiotech’s novel vaccine platform is based
on a proprietary protein “superglue” technology which binds
antigens to vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimizes
delivery risk and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy. This makes
it ideal for use against infectious diseases in challenging
environments, such as in the developing world, but also with
potential application in non-infectious disease settings such as
cancer. SpyBiotech has the exclusive rights from the University of
Oxford to apply, commercialize and sub-license the
SpyTag/SpyCatcher and related “superglue” technologies in vaccine
development. www.spybiotech.com
i Stanford Medicine. (2022, January 24). Study identifies how
Epstein-Barr virus triggers multiple sclerosis.
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2022/01/epstein-barr-virus-multiple-sclerosis.html
ii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September
28). About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-ebv.html
iii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b, September
28). Epstein-Barr and mononucleosis: For Healthcare Providers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/hcp.html
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