Innovation grant will boost development of oral Zika vaccine

The £214,000 Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Innovate UK grant has been earmarked for the creation of new vaccines to counter global epidemics.

Among these is the Zika vaccine now in development utilising a modified adenovirus as a vector to carry the DNA for Zika antigens/proteins.

‘We’re taking an innovative approach and if successful, Stabilitech will be shifting the paradigm in vaccine delivery,’ said chairman Wayne Channon.

The company said that if the approach proves successful, the platform can be employed to carry DNA of other viral antigens or therapeutic proteins.

Stabilitech’s vaccine will carry both variants of the Zika virus and employs the company’s Thermo-SB platform which provides thermal stability removing the need for refrigeration.

Added Channon: “‘Particularly in developing countries this could be very significant - temperature excursions often destroy vaccines resulting in insufficient patient immunity but with our platform, the vaccine will be thermally stable. 

“Additionally, the ability to self-administer means that more patients will be able to access the vaccine more easily and with considerably reduced costs.’