VaxThera and Quantoom Biosciences have reached a major milestone in their self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine development collaboration.
Together, the companies have successfully developed an saRNA vaccine that can protect against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in chickens.
Efficacious at ultra-low doses, the vaccine prevented mortality in all innoculated animals, as well as strong antibody responses and complete prevention of viral shedding.
This means that vaccinated birds will not contribute to environmental contamination or transmission chains, allowing detection efforts to focus on unvaccinated or infected populations — improving disease containment.
Leveraging VaxThera´s extensive experience in mosaic antigen design and Quantoom’s N-Force toolbox, the DIVA-compatible vaccine achieved full protection in challenge studies in chickens.
The vaccine was designed using Quantoom’s Ncode algorithm for in silico generation of a mosaic H5 saRNA sequence covering more than 5,000 strains, produced at scale using Quantoom’s Ntensify platform, and formulated using Quantoom’s Ncapsulate with proprietary QCX lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to ensure targeted delivery.
Building on this success, VaxThera and Quantoom plan to continue development through dose-response studies, safety evaluations and field trials. The mosaic antigen strategy also opens the door to potential cross-protection against emerging strains such as H7N9 and applications in other species, including swine.
“The human health is inextricably linked to the health of animals and the environment, as outlined by the One Health concept," stated VaxThera's CEO, Jorge Osorio.
"It is imperative to conduct research in a multidimensional and multidisciplinary manner to effectively address potential threats. Our collaboration with Quantoom Biosciences is aligned with our primary objective of developing a successful HPAI vaccine for poultry."
"This achievement illustrates how integrating the advanced capabilities of our organisations can result in significant solutions for both human and animal health. We are pleased to continue our collaboration on future vaccines and biologics, which are driving innovation and improving lives”, he added.
“This is a major step not only for our partnership with VaxThera, but also for the future of RNA vaccines in veterinary health,” said José Castillo, CEO of Quantoom Biosciences.
“This project shows that our saRNA-LNP combination can provide rapid, effective and affordable protection against rapidly mutating viruses like HPAI. We are currently developing a lyophilized version of our LNP formulation, a critical innovation to enhance vaccine stability and distribution in the field of animal health.”
