Osivax universal influenza vaccine candidate

overview

Influenza remains a devastating disease

Current seasonal vaccines triggering an antibody response against surface antigens (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) are only partially effective, especially for patients over 65 years old : 25% effectiveness in the 2016-17 season in the US (3)

A paradigm shift is essential in influenza vaccination

Osivax is developing a game-changing universal influenza vaccine

• Osivax’s vaccine targets the NucleoProtein (NP), a highly conserved internal antigen, much less prone to antigen drift than the traditional surface antigen targeted by current Flu vaccines, thus alleviating the need for annual updates
• oligoDOM® technology enables the transformation of the NucleoProtein into a highly immunogenic antigen to trigger powerful B- and T-cells activation

Preclinical development on OVX836, first generation broad-spectrum vaccine covering circulating and emerging A-strains, showed

• powerful systemic and local immune responses
• strong efficacy in mice and ferrets challenge studies with multiple A-strain Flu viruses
• an excellent safety profile in a GLP preclinical toxicology study

OVX836 is now in Phase I clinical trial, conducted by Professor Pierre Van Damme in the Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) at the University of Antwerp

A second generation vaccine (covering both A- and B-strains) is under preclinical development to provide a universal protection against current and future A- and B-strain Influenza viruses

1 - https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
2 - Institute for Disease Modelling, mentionned by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
3 - https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2017-06/flu-03-ferdinands.pdf