Esperovax, Inc., a private Michigan-based biotechnologycompany specializing in innovative circular RNA technologies announced today that DynPort VaccineCompany LLC (DVC), a General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) company, awarded Esperovax atwo-year base subcontract valued at $1.5 million for the pre-clinical development of an oral H5N1 influenzaRNA vaccine. This subcontract entitled “An oral, encapsulated yeast-based vaccine platform for synthesis ofmRNA-containing enveloped VLPs” was awarded under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense ThreatReduction Agency (DTRA) Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) Other Transactional Agreement(OTA). Options on the subcontract may provide additional funding for vaccine development for H5N1influenza or other emerging biothreat agents.
The project will focus on developing a thermostable oral circular RNA-based H5N1 influenza vaccine candidate using Esperovax’s proprietary yeast-based circular RNA technologies that address significant storage, shelf-life, manufacturing expense, and duration of immunity challenges confronting current protein and RNA vaccines. This H5N1 influenza vaccine is designed to elicit systemic and mucosal humoral and cell-mediated immunity that protects against respiratory tract viral infection and virus dissemination from vaccinated persons.
“Esperovax looks forward to working with DVC and DTRA to develop oral RNA vaccines for biothreatsusing our technologies that we have applied to other vaccines previously,” said Dr. Robin Robinson, ChiefExecutive Officer of Esperovax. “Our team including Dr. Richard Webby at St. Jude Children’s ResearchHospital is committed to advancing this novel vaccine platform that may afford easy oral administration withrobust and long-lasting protective immunity and manufacturing cost-savings.”
DVC will manage the project, with Esperovax contributing technical expertise, key personnel, and critical research and development capabilities. This partnership aims to achieve a significant milestone in biodefense, enhancing the Department of Defense’s ability to protect military personnel from biological threats.
About Esperovax: Esperovax, Inc. is a private U.S.-based biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oral RNA vaccine and therapeutic platforms and products. Leveraging proprietary technologies, Esperovax aims to create effective, easy-to-administer vaccines that address unmet medical needs across various infectious diseases and biothreats.
