SEEK awarded FP7 grant to fund Phase IIb trial of universal flu immunotherapeutic
Strengthens management team with appointment of Steven Powell
SEEK, a privately-owned UK pharmaceutical group, based in London, has been awarded a European Union Framework Programme 7 (FP7) grant to advance the development of its universal flu immunotherapeutic, FLU-v.
At the same time, the firm has hired Steven Powell, who will be responsible for the commercialisation of the group’s immunotherapeutic products, including vaccines, anti-virals and monoclonal antibodies in the area of flu, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, TB, malaria and Chagas disease.
SEEK's role in the pan-European consortium, which has been awarded an FP7 grant of €5.3m, is to carry out a Phase IIb clinical trial on its immunotherapeutic FLU-v.
The firm’s immunotherapeutic targets regions of the flu virus that are found on all influenza strains, including pandemic strains. This means that people can be given the medicine at the start of every flu season, even before the strain for that year is known, and even if that strain turns out to be a pandemic strain. The medicine will reduce the severity and duration of the flu. Unlike other such immunotherapeutics, this medicine can be taken before the individual contracts the flu. To date it has shown no side effects.
Recent data published by Southampton University1 and Imperial College2 supports the view that boosting a person’s T cells to the non-mutating regions of flu strains greatly reduces the severity of the disease.
Commenting on the funding, Gregory Stoloff, CEO of SEEK Group, said: 'This FP7 funding provides external validation of our efforts and makes the prospect of bringing this medicine to market a reality. It is a much needed medicine that could finally break the stress and pressures placed on the health communities and governments in dealing with pandemic and annual flu.'
Powell has more than 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. He was previously Chief Executive of Plethora Solutions Holdings and provides advisory services to Gilda Healthcare Partners. He has non-executive roles in other entities within the industry.
He started his career in research at GlaxoSmithKline as a Development Scientist and subsequently held senior management positions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
1. Southampton University, UK. Preexisting influenza-specific CD4+ T cells correlate with disease protection against influenza challenge in humans. Nature Medicine (2012)
2. Imperial College London, London, UK. Cellular immune correlates of protection against symptomatic pandemic influenza. Nature Medicine (2013)
