AstriVax enters clinical phase with its novel vaccine platform technology
June 24 2024 - 1:00AM
AstriVax enters clinical phase with its novel vaccine platform
technology
- The first participants have been dosed in SAFYR, a Phase I
clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of two prophylactic
vaccines developed with AstriVax technology.
- The study will also provide clinical proof of concept for the
company’s platform technology.
- Following these first-in-human data, AstriVax plans to advance
its immunotherapies for chronic Hepatitis B to clinical
development.
Leuven - June 24, 2024 - The first
participants have been dosed in a Phase I clinical study to test
the safety and efficacy of AstriVax’s prophylactic vaccines for
yellow fever (AVX70120) and rabies (AVX70481) in healthy adults.
The first-in-human safety and immunogenicity data generated by this
study will be a stepping stone in advancing AstriVax
immunotherapies to clear chronic infections such as Hepatitis
B and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
The company’s first-in-human clinical study,
called SAFYR, will be conducted in two Belgium-based, world-class
vaccine clinical trial sites: the Centre for Vaccinology in Ghent
and Vaccinopolis in Antwerp. The study will evaluate the safety and
characterize the immune response of the company’s prophylactic
vaccines for yellow fever and rabies in close to 100 healthy adults
aged 18 to 40. The results are also expected to provide clinical
proof of concept for the AstriVax vaccine platform.
Mathieu Peeters, MD, Chief Development
Officer at AstriVax: “This clinical trial evaluates our
cutting-edge technology in a clinical proof-of-concept study. We
use plasmids that deliver live-attenuated virus vectors along with
the target viral antigen. This self-amplifying mechanism is
designed to elicit strong and long-lasting immune responses with
only microdoses.”
The novel AstriVax vaccines are potential
game-changers in the fight against viral pathogens. Developed with
the company’s innovative vaccine platform, they are easy to
produce, have limited cold chain requirements, and are expected to
trigger a strong and lasting immune response.
Paving the way for immunotherapies
Today, AstriVax is a clinical-stage company with
a rich pipeline targeting viral infections, including treatment of
infectious diseases with critical unmet medical needs like chronic
Hepatitis B, which affects over 250 million people, and HPV
infections, a leading cause of cervical cancer.
Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder
of AstriVax: “Less than two years ago, our journey began with
solid, academically developed technology and a €30 million seed
round. In May 2023, we were awarded a grant from Flanders
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to further advance our
technology. I’m deeply grateful to my exceptional team for shaping
the company into what it is today, and I look forward to continuing
our journey towards better global health together. We anticipate
our chronic hepatitis B immunotherapeutic will enter the clinical
phase in 2025, marking yet another significant milestone for
AstriVax. ”
Media contact
Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D, CEO of Astrivax,
corporate@astrivax.com.
About AstriVax
Founded in 2022, AstriVax NV aims to address
global challenges in vaccinology with its innovative plug-and-play
vaccine platform. The company develops novel prophylactic and
therapeutic vaccines that are easy to produce, have reduced cold
chain requirements, and offer broad and long-lasting protection
against various infectious diseases. AstriVax is supported by
well-known investors V-Bio Ventures, Fund+, Flanders Future
TechFund managed by PMV, Thuja Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren,
OMX Europe Venture Fund (Mérieux Equity Partners and Korys), BNP
Paribas Fortis Private Equity, and the KU Leuven Gemma Frisius
Fund. AstriVax is located in the BioHub in Leuven. For more
information, please visit astrivax.com.