ExpreS2ion announces the initial approval of a Eurostars grant application, OptiFemVac, with main focus on the development of a Zika vaccine
Horsholm, Denmark, January 23, 2017 – Today, ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS (“ExpreS2ion”), a fully owned subsidiary of ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB, announces that a Eurostars grant application made in a consortium together with Abera Bioscience AB and The University of Copenhagen has been preliminary approved under the project name ‘OptiFemVac’. The overall project budget covers a period of 36 months and amounts to EUR 1.6M. The grant award is approx. EUR 750,000 of which ExpreS2ion can expect to receive in the order of EUR 300,000. The final issue of the grant is linked to the approval of a Consortium Agreement between the OptiFemVac consortium partners.
The OptiFemVac project
The aim of the consortium is to develop vaccines targeting female reproductive and infant health, enhanced by delivery platforms designed to produce and deliver efficacious vaccines more cost effectively. The platforms allow optimal display of multiple antigens in one vaccine unit to evoke strong and long-lasting antibody and cellular responses. The main focus is the development of a Zika vaccine, with additional preclinical data for a combined Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Placental Malaria (PM) vaccine.
The Eurostars grant
The consortium has had its grant application approved under the project name OptiFemVac (see https://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/project/id/11019). The overall project budget covers a period of 36 months and amounts to EUR 1.6M. The grant award is approx. EUR 750,000 of which ExpreS2ion can expect to receive in the order of EUR 300,000. Before final approval, the work funded by the grant needs to be stipulated in a Consortium Agreement between the OptiFemVac consortium partners. This agreement must be provided within three months from approval of the partners and is currently being prepared by the consortium.
Abera Bioscience and University of Copenhagen
Abera Bioscience AB is a private Swedish biotech company, which has developed a new and unique platform for vaccine enhancement and delivery of vaccines. The core element is Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) that can deliver multiple antigens of choice at a high density. Additional information about Abera is on their web-page www.aberabio.com.
The research group involved in the consortium is from the Centre for Medical Parasitology (CMP), which is a collaboration between University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet. CMPs research is focused on malaria and it is part of a well- established international scientific network, composed of scientists in Europe, Africa, America and Australia. More than 60 scientists and technicians are affiliated at CMP; see more information on their web-page www.cmp.ku.dk/english.
CEO Steen Klysner comments
“We are very pleased to lead this exciting project, which combines absolute front-end science and versatile technologies from the University of Copenhagen and Abera Bioscience AB with our core EXPRES2 platform and our already developed proprietary Zika antigen. There is a strong potential in using this combination to address presently unmet needs in female reproductive and infant health.”
Certified Advisor
Sedermera Fondkommission is appointed as Certified Adviser for ExpreS2ion.
For further information, please contact:
ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, Steen Klysner, CEO
Telephone: 45 2062 9908
E-mail: sk@expres2ionbio.com
This press release contains information that ExpreS2ion is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above on January 23, 2017.
About ExpreS2ion
ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS, is a fully owned Danish subsidiary of ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB with company register number 559033-3729. The subsidiary has developed a unique platform technology, ExpreS2, enabling cost effective development and robust production of complex proteins for new vaccines and diagnostics for e.g. Malaria and Zika. Since founded in 2010, the company has used its patented ExpreS2platform to produce more than 200 proteins in collaborations with research institutions and biopharmaceutical companies, with a superior efficiency and success rate.
Tags: