NetScientific PLC (AIM:NSCI) disclosed that its portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology, has agreed to license COBRA (Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen) antigens from the University of Georgia.
The antigens will initially be for use in the clinical development of PDS’s infectious disease immunotherapy pipeline, PDS0202, a universal flu vaccine candidate.
Designed by renowned influenza expert, Dr Ted Ross at the University of Georgia, the novel COBRA antigens are to be used in combination with Versamune for PDS0202 for the universal prevention of infection by multiple strains of influenza virus, NetScientific said.
The antigens were selected following successful pre-clinical development work completed under a contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) programme to progress PDS0202 development.
PDS0202 leverages Versamune’s ability to induce the immune system to generate high levels of flu-specific neutralising antibodies, CD4 helper and CD8 killer T-cells, as well as long-acting memory T-cells to potentially provide broad and long-term protection against multiple influenza strains.
“Our new agreement with the University of Georgia demonstrates the versatility and potential of our Versamune platform and advances our infectious disease pipeline,” said PDS Biotech’s chief executive officer (CEO), Frank Bedu-Addo.
“There are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, and a universal flu vaccine would eliminate the need to manufacture a new seasonal flu vaccine each year by providing robust, long-lasting protection against multiple subtypes of flu. We believe this is the next step in the advancement of novel infectious disease vaccines to address the nearly one billion cases of influenza worldwide annually,” Bedu-Addo said.
Ilian Iliev, the CEO of NetScientific, said the latest development further demonstrates the PDS team’s ability to execute a sophisticated programme of clinical applications of the Versamune platform.
Investment company NetScientific’s interest in PDS amounts to roughly 4.72%.