DIOSynVax to develop vaccine candidate to protect against Sars-Cov-2 variants and other major coronaviruses
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has announced a $42 million (about £32 million) investment in a Cambridge biotech spinout to develop a vaccine candidate that could protect against different variants of coronaviruses.
DIOSynVax will use the funding to establish clinical proof of concept for an mRNA vaccine with the potential to provide protection against existing and future variants of Sars-Cov-2—the disease that causes Covid-19—as well as other major coronaviruses, including those that cause Sars and Mers.
“Our approach is to be ahead of the next pandemic—to deliver custom-designed, immune-selected vaccine antigens—which is ideal to prevent diseases caused by complex viruses such as the large and diverse family of coronaviruses,” said Jonathan Heeney (pictured), CEO of DIOSynVax.
“If successful, it will result in a safe, affordable NextGen vaccine for widespread use.”
Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said he was “excited to further strengthen CEPI’s strong ties to British science” through the partnership.
“Coronaviruses have now proven their pandemic potential, so it’s imperative for global health security that we invest in R&D now to future-proof against the threat of coronaviruses.”
The investment was announced by prime minister Boris Johnson during a Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit on 8 March.
In December, DIOSynVax hit headlines when it started its UK trial of a new needle-free Covid-19 vaccine, DIOS-CoVax, which is administered through a jet of air.
That vaccine targets elements of the virus structure that are common to all known ‘beta-coronaviruses’ and that are vitally important to the virus life cycle, which means they are unlikely to change in the future. The hope is they would protect us against existing variants, said Heenley, and “hopefully future-proof us against emerging variants and potential coronavirus pandemics”.
If successful, it could be manufactured as a powder to boost global vaccination efforts, as well as a jab alternative for people with fear of needles.
“As new variants emerge and immunity begins to wane we need newer technologies,” said Heeney. “It’s vital that we continue to develop new generation vaccine candidates ready to help keep us safe from the next virus threats.
“Our vaccine is innovative, both in terms of the way it primes the immune system to respond with a broader protective response to coronaviruses, and how it is delivered. Crucially, it is the first step towards a universal coronavirus vaccine we are developing, protecting us not just from Covid-19 variants but from future coronaviruses.”
DIOSynVax is one of several UK R&D organisations working on new Covid vaccines.