Immunovaccine initiates Zika virus vaccine program using proprietary platform

Immunovaccine, Inc., announced on Wednesday that it will begin a research project toward the development of a vaccine to fight against the emerging Zika virus.

Immunovaccine said the vaccine will be developed using its proprietary DepoVax platform, which has produced some promising results in treatments for the Ebola virus, anthrax and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“Immunovaccine’s unique oil-based delivery system has produced elevated and durable immune responses with a consistent safety profile in several disease areas,” Marc Mansour, chief executive officer of Immunovaccine, said. “Successful preclinical proof-of-concept studies will allow us to move quickly towards clinical trials as we join the global effort to develop a vaccine against this disease that has the potential to spread rapidly in previously unaffected populations.”

Results from the first human clinical trials of the DepoVax delivery system in infectious diseases are expected to be released in the spring. The trial involves Immunovaccine’s product candidate for RSV. PharmAthene, Inc., has licensed Immunovaccine’s technology for the clinical and commercial development of an anthrax vaccine program.

Immunovaccine’s product candidates have shown extended stability in various storage conditions and a long shelf-life at room temperature because they contain no water.