According to Oragenics, Canadian biopharmaceutical research consortium CQDM has awarded a grant for development of variant-agnostic protein antigens for use in an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine that “aims to build upon Oragenics’ current lead intranasal vaccine candidate NT-CoV2-1.” According to the CQDM web site, the total value of the project is $1.64 million, with project partners Oragenics, Inspirevax, and the National Research Council of Canada also providing some of the funding.
In June 2022, Oragenics announced that preclinical data supported continued development of NT-CoV-2-1. Earlier this year, the company announced a new licensing deal with Inspirevax for Inspirevax’s BDX301 intranasal mucosal adjuvant for use in the NT-CoV2-1 vaccine.
Oragenics President and CEO Kim Murphy commented, “By collaborating with our longstanding partners, we are better able to address the evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus by working to develop broadly protective antigens designed to protect against current and future variants. Our pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate presents a potential universal solution to the evolving nature of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially future coronaviruses by targeting mucosal immunity at the source, being readily deployable through faster manufacturing and exhibiting lower barriers for storage and transportation. We are grateful for this new source of non-dilutive funding to advance our scientific work.”
CQDM President and CEO Diane Gosselin said, “We are delighted to support the work of Oragenics and Inspirevax on the continued development of their intranasal vaccine, which offers a novel solution to reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission by targeting mucosal immunity, among other benefits. Collaborative efforts such as this accelerate technological advancement by combining the most innovative R&D from each organization.”
Read the Oragenics press release.
