Lipoxen and Cambridge Biostability present positive data for flu vaccine

Lipoxen, a biopharmaceutical company, and Cambridge Biostability, or CBL, a developer of temperature-stable vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, have achieved positive preclinical results for the delivery of an enhanced influenza vaccine based on the combination of Lipoxen’s vaccine delivery system ‘ImuXen’ and CBL’s proprietary VitRIS stabilization platform.

The study results show that ImuXen increases the effectiveness of influenza vaccine materials by approximately 30-fold, said Lipoxen. In addition, the VitRIS formulation reportedly enhances the efficacy of the vaccine a further four-fold. As a combined product, the VitRIS-preserved ImuXen formulation has the potential to achieve a projected 10-fold advantage in vaccine production rates, addressing the greatest potential need for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines for existing and newly emerged flu viruses, the two companies said.

The study, which was undertaken by Lipoxen and CBL with analysis of blood samples conducted by Retroscreen Virology in London, was set up to determine the capability of Lipoxen’s ImuXen technology, in combination with CBL’s VitRIS stabilization technology, to create a stable vaccine formulation that would increase antibody production against an H1N1 influenza virus which was supplied by the UK National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), the government body responsible for safeguarding and advancing public health by assuring the quality and safety of biologicals.

The results of the study give clear indication that Lipoxen’s vaccine technology coupled with CBL’s formulation techniques, not only provide a significantly enhanced vaccine response but also a dramatic advantage in increased vaccine production rates, the two companies added.

Following the study results, Lipoxen has selected a lead vaccine candidate and is currently conducting stability studies at elevated temperature in partnership with CBL. Lipoxen and CBL are also in discussion with major vaccine manufacturers with a view to licensing the new technology package for pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines.

Scott Maguire, CEO of Lipoxen, said: This new very positive data on a novel flu vaccine candidate comes at a critical time for the world particularly in light of the current potential for a swine flu outbreak where the death toll is climbing daily and the spread of disease is an enormous current global threat. These results show that we have the technology to develop a novel flu vaccine candidate suitable for pandemic planning.

Our vaccine candidate offers the advantages of enhanced immune response, fast and high volume production as well as no requirement for a cold-chain, all ideal characteristics in planning for further pandemic situations. Based on the results we are encouraged to believe that it would also work for the new swine flu 2009 strain since an earlier human derived H1N1 strain was used in the studies reported today. We look forward to working with CBL to maximize the commercial potential of this flu vaccine candidate.