GlycoVaxyn said that using its proprietary technology, staphylococcal surface polysaccharides will be conjugated in-vivo to conserved protein antigens from S aureus. The efficacy of this new bioconjugate vaccine will then be evaluated in different animal models of S aureus infection.
GlycoVaxyn, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that the NIH funding is expected to accelerate the development of potential vaccine candidates.
In parallel to this approach, GlycoVaxyn, which started Phase I clinical trials with a bioconjugate vaccine against Shigella dysenteriae early this year, is expecting to start a clinical trial with its first generation S aureus vaccine by late 2011.
Dr Jean Lee said: “GlycoVaxyn’s first generation S aureus bioconjugate vaccine has shown protective efficacy in preclinical studies. The new generation vaccine is expected to give broader protection against a variety of S aureus strains.”
Michael Wacker, CSO and founder of GlycoVaxyn, said: “Our bioconjugation technology allows us a very flexible and powerful approach to multivalent vaccine development, coupling polysaccharide to protein antigens in a strictly controlled way.
“This grant confirms the potential of this approach and will allow extensive preclinical evaluation of the novel vaccine.”