BioVaxys Technology Corp. (CSE:BIOV, OTCQB:BVAXF) said interim results from its ongoing pre-clinical study shows its vaccine against a family of viruses including Covid-19 has an excellent emerging tolerability profile with no observed side effects.
BVX-1021 is the company's vaccine for SARS-CoV-1 (SARS1), which is being evaluated in conjunction with Ohio State University.
Vancouver, BC-based BioVaxys said the study is evaluating its novel approach for a "universal vaccine" that can treat a broad range of sarbecoviruses.
READ: BioVaxys Technology signs exclusive distribution deal for cervical lesion treatments from Spain-based Procare Health
Sarbecoviruses are a family of viruses that include all Covid-19 variants, the SARS-CoV-1 virus responsible for the 2003 global SARS pandemic, and a broad range of other potentially dangerous zoonotic viruses.
The team is studying the combination of BioVaxys' BVX-0320 and BVX-1021 in a guinea pig model.
BVX-1021 is a hapten-modified recombinant S1 subunit of the spike protein from the SARS1 virus, whereas BVX-0320, is a hapten-modified recombinant S1 subunit of the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2), the virus which causes Covid-19, according to the biotechnology company.
No toxicities, body weight changes, or injection site reactions have been observed three weeks after the administration of BVX-1021 in a guinea pig animal model, the company said.
BioVaxys chief medical officer Dr David Berd said: "Although pre-clinical results in animal models do not always duplicate in humans, the emerging tolerability and clean toxicity profile are very promising for clinical evaluation."
The next step of the study is the follow-on immunization of the test animals with BVX-0320, the company's Covid-19 vaccine candidate, currently underway at Ohio State.
The major goals of the study are the development of virus-neutralizing antibodies to live virus SARS2 and other sarbecoviruses, including bat and pangolin SARS-related coronaviruses, the company said.
The presence of neutralizing antibodies in the animal model would strongly suggest that BVX-1021 would confer an additional immune response across all sarbecoviruses in people fully vaccinated for Covid-19, as well as those with natural immunity.
BioVaxys COO Kenneth Kovan said the interim data further supports the company’s efforts to develop a safe and well-tolerated solution for sarbecoviruses such as SARS-1, SARS-CoV-2, and its emerging variants.
“The emerging in vivo safety and tolerability profile of BVX-1021 mirrors that shown by our SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, BVX-0320, and is further evidence of the viability of our haptenized antigen vaccine platform across different viruses," Kovan said in a statement.
Contact the author at susie@proactiveinvestors.com