Intervacc awarded prestigious Eurostars grant to advance their new prototype vaccine against Streptococcus suis infection in pigs
Stockholm, February 7, 2024 - Intervacc AB (publ) announces that it, together with Moredun Scientific, has been awarded a grant from the Eurostars-3 programme covering approx. 50 % of the €1.7 million project to advance Intervacc’s prototype vaccine against Streptococcus suis infections in pigs.
Streptococcus suis causes meningitis, septicaemia and arthritis in young piglets, leading to significant costs to the pig industry throughout the world. Intervacc’s innovative vaccine technology utilises fusion proteins to generate broad-acting immune responses that provide protection to animals from complex bacterial diseases. A particular challenge for vaccines against S. suis is the onset of disease in very young pigs shortly after weaning, before most vaccines have an opportunity to take effect. However, in proof-of-concept studies, the consumption of colostrum from sows that were vaccinated with Intervacc’s prototype vaccine provided significant levels of protection to piglets against Streptococcus suis at both 4 and 7 weeks of age. The control of disease caused by S. suis currently requires the extensive use of antibiotics. S. suis is also an important cause of zoonotic disease in humans. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective vaccine that protects piglets is an urgent unmet need.
“We are delighted to have been awarded this Eurostars project grant, which will advance the development and optimisation of the scale-up production methods for our prototype vaccine in preparation for pivotal clinical trials,” said Dr. Andrew Waller, CSO of Intervacc. “In addition, this project will optimise vaccine formulation and measure protection against a diverse type of S. suis, directing the design of the clinical trials.”
Rhona Macdonald, Managing Director of Moredun Scientific commented “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Intervacc, which brings our expertise in infectious disease models and porcine immunology to support the further development of their S. suis vaccine.”
The new €1.7 million Eurostars-3 programme award, provides a grant covering approximately 50% of the total project costs. The project will also be conducted in collaboration with Testa Center, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Karolinska Institute.
“The award of this significant grant from Eurostars, in partnership with Vinnova, is further endorsement of our vaccine technology, and it’s utility to improve the health of animals and profitability of farms,” stated Jonas Sohlman, CEO of Intervacc. “S. suis is a scourge of pig populations across the world and it is fantastic that we have the support of these influential organisations in taking this important step forward.”
For more information please contact:
Jonas Sohlman, CEO
Phone: +46 (0)8 120 10 600, Cell: +46 (0) 70 576 30 73
E-mail: jonas.sohlman@intervacc.se
This information is information that Intervacc AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for immediate publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above on February 7, 2024.
About Eurostars
Eurostars supports international innovative projects led by research and development- performing small- and medium-sized enterprises (R&D-performing SMEs). With its bottom-up approach, Eurostars supports the development of rapidly marketable innovative products, processes and services that help improve the daily lives of people around the world.
Eurostars is a joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission, co-funded from the national budgets of 37 Eurostars Participating States and Partner Countries and by the European Union through Horizon Europe. From the start 2014 it has invested a total of about €1.75 billion in innovative research and development projects. Read more about Eurostars at https://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/
About Moredun Scientific
Moredun Scientific is a contract research organisation specialising in animal health and biosafety testing of biopharmaceuticals enabling companies to develop, register and commercialize their products. Their expert staff work with a global client base to ensure on time delivery of studies to the required quality standards. Read more at https://www.moredun.org.uk/commercial
About Intervacc
Intervacc AB is a Swedish company within animal health developing vaccines for animals. The Company's vaccine and vaccine candidates are based on several years of research at Karolinska Institutet and Swedish University of Agricultural Research where the foundation was laid for the Company´s research and development work. The Intervacc share has been listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market since April 2017 with Eminova Fondkommission AB as Certified Adviser.
Contact information for Certified Adviser
Eminova Fondkommission AB
E-mail: adviser@eminova.se, Phone: +46 (0)8 – 684 211 10
