Public Funding for Immunobiology Limited

Immunisation programmes have proven successful against some of the world’s most deadly diseases but unfortunately vaccines are not available to protect against many existing infections and new vaccine approaches are required urgently to prevent evolving and emerging diseases. For example, vaccines are not available to protect against some strains of bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease (including pneumonia and meningitis). Between 5-10% of all adults and 20-40% of children are carriers and Pneumococcal disease causes more infant mortality than TB, HIV and malaria combined. Existing vaccines are very expensive and cover only a limited number of pathogenic strains. This project will develop an innovative approach for a broadly protective vaccine “PnuBioVax” effective against all disease causing S. pneumoniae strains.

Vaccines are not yet available to protect against H. Pylori and C. Difficile and the existing therapeutic options available have significant limitations and challenges. Although quoted as significant, the market size for vaccines against these pathogens are poorly defined and the characteristics of a successful prophylactic vaccine product (e.g. production costs, duration of action) are not well established. ImmunoBiology Ltd (ImmBio) intends to establish the market size, intellectual property position and medical need for two potential new vaccines against these pathogens as a necessary first step to establishing full vaccine development projects. Vaccine development activities are both long and costly, therefore it is essential to establish proof of market including commercial viability before significant experimental work is initiated. A full exploitation plan will be established as a part of this project defining the work and costs that will be necessary to bring an effective vaccine to market. Activities will be based on an existing vaccine technology platform "ImmBioVax" owned by ImmunoBiology and proven to deliver vaccines possessing broad efficacy against pathogens such as N. Meningitidis and Mtb.

Vaccine immunisation programmes have proven successful against some of the world’s most deadly diseases, eradicating smallpox and on the edge of eradicating Polio. Unfortunately, vaccines are not available to protect against many existing infections and new vaccine approaches are required to stop evolving and emerging diseases. For example, while vaccines protect against some strains of bacteria that cause meningitis, group B meningococcal disease has proved difficult to combat. The Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that there are around 3,300 cases of bacterial meningitis and associated septicaemia every year in the UK and Ireland. No protective vaccine is available against the major B group strains in the UK and infection can often be fatal or lead to significant brain damage and/or limb amputation. This project will develop a new approach to produce a universal vaccine “MenBioVax” effective against all invasive meningococcal disease.

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Awaiting Public Summary