Imagine trying to lock a door but not knowing where the keyhole is or how the lock works. This project maps out exactly how the body fights parasitic worms to find the right 'keyholes' for vaccines. It then uses a high-tech assembly line to build and test these vaccines in humans to stop these infections for good.
There is a total lack of effective vaccines for helminth infections due to poor target discovery and a lack of specialized production platforms. This leaves over a billion people vulnerable to devastating Neglected Tropical Diseases.
A vaccine discovery pipeline including controlled human infection models, innovative antigen production platforms, and a phase 1 clinical trial for an mRNA schistosomiasis vaccine.
If you are an mRNA vaccine manufacturer dealing with a lack of targetable antigens for tropical diseases — this project developed a phase 1 clinical trial for an mRNA-based schistosomiasis vaccine that provides a validated production pathway.
If you are a clinical trial specialist dealing with the difficulty of testing vaccines for neglected diseases — this project developed controlled human infection models for hookworm and schistosomes that accelerate the testing phase.
If you are an antigen production SME dealing with inefficient vaccine target discovery — this project developed an evidence-based pipeline and innovative production platforms to rapidly engineer a diverse portfolio of vaccine candidates.
Based on available project data, there is no information regarding the specific cost or pricing of the vaccine candidates.
The project involves 4 industry partners and focuses on creating sustainable platform technologies for the next generation of vaccines, suggesting a focus on industrial applicability.
Based on available project data, specific IP or licensing terms are not mentioned, though the project aims to produce a diversified portfolio of candidates ready for clinical testing.
The project runs from 2023-09-01 to 2028-08-31, with a phase 1 clinical trial planned as part of the objectives.
The project focuses on the control and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in both endemic and non-endemic areas through evidence-based vaccine discovery.
The consortium is well-balanced for translational research, featuring 13 partners across 11 countries. With a 31% industry ratio (4 companies, including 3 SMEs), there is a strong link between academic research (5 universities, 4 research institutes) and commercial application, which is critical for moving vaccine candidates from the lab to clinical trials.
Contact Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden regarding the vaccine discovery pipeline.
Contact SciTransfer to connect with the WORMVACS2.0 consortium for licensing mRNA vaccine platforms.
