America is changing fast! Don't miss the most important news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed and engaged.
Weekly Newsletter
America is changing fast! Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed and engaged.
Shares of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. HOTH, surged 35.26% after it announced that it has reached an agreement with Voltron Therapeutics, Inc. to form a joint venture for a Self-Assembling Vaccine (SAV) for the potential prevention of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The joint entity will be called HaloVax. Based on VaxCelerate, this SAV platform was exclusively licensed by Voltron from the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The VaxCelerate vaccine platform enables the rapid generation and pre-clinical testing of a new vaccine against specific pathogen targets.
The technology has obtained funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) and demonstrated proof of concept in Lassa Fever, which is an emerging infectious disease.
Both companies will jointly explore and develop this SAV technology as a means to help patients at risk of being infected with COVID-19. The vaccine focuses on both DNA and internal/external mutated proteins providing the immune system with more potential targets to attack.
Per the agreement, Hoth shall be granted the right to receive single-digit royalties from the sale of any products developed. It shall also have the right to acquire up to a 30% equity interest in HaloVax.
Hoths shares have lost 39.6% in the year so far compared with the industrys 16.6% decline.
Given the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, many pharma/biotech companies are joining the race to develop treatments for the same. In particular, efforts to develop a vaccine to combat this deadly virus have accelerated in the last couple of weeks and Hoth is the latest company to join this bandwagon. Earlier, Moderna, Inc., MRNA dosed the first participant in the phase I study of mRNA vaccine (mRNA-1273) against SARS-CoV-2. A few others like Novavax, Inc. NVAX and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. INO are developing vaccines to address this disease. Big pharmas like Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline are making efforts as well to develop a vaccine.
Hoth currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportModerna, Inc. (MRNA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNovavax, Inc. (NVAX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportInovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportHoth Therapeutics, Inc. (HOTH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
A new study from Italian researchers suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which is the cause of the COVID-19 disease currently causing a global health crisis, is relatively slow to mutate meaning that any effective vaccine that is developed to prevent people from getting infected should be broadly effective across geographically separated populations over a relatively long period of time.
The research, conducted by two independent teams working separate from one another, including scientists at the Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases (IRCCS) in Rome and the Forensic Division of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health (DSBSP) at Ancona University Hospital, performed genetic sequencing tests using tech developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific on samples of the virus taken from Italian patients. They then compared these samples to a reference genome that was sequenced from a sample of the virus taken from the original Wuhan outbreak some two months prior.
The differences between the two virus samples was very small, speaking in terms of genetic variation only five new variants appeared in the later Italian samples, which is an early indication that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus remains fairly stable even over the course of a long train of transmission across multiple individuals and populations.
This is heartening news, especially given that other viruses can be quick to mutate. Consider the standard seasonal flu, which is much less severe but still a consistent challenge for health professionals; it essentially constantly mutates, which is why each year a new flu vaccine is developed, with researchers essentially racing the clock to anticipate which newly mutated strains will pose the greatest threat in each flu season, adapting the inoculation and urging the public to get their updated shot.
Other viruses either mutate very slowly or dont mutate at all, and the coronavirus that leads to COVID-19 appears to be among the former. In addition to this Italian study, work done by John Hopkins University and other health science researchers around the world have supported this view. An endeavor by a U.K. consortium to more comprehensively track mutations over time should provide an even clearer view.
As far as the COVID-19 pandemic goes, this new support for the theory that the virus behind it is a slow-moving one in terms of its genetic makeup is very good news indeed. Any vaccine is still likely at least a year way, but this research at least suggests that when it does arrive, itll be effective broadly and for at least a few years at a time.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO) has received quite a bit of help in its quest to develop a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
For instance, on Jan. 23, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations awarded a grant of up to $9 million to Inovio to fund pre-clinical and clinical development of its vaccine candidate,INO-4800. Also, on March 12, the company received a grant of $5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to test and scale up the manufacture of the Cellectra 3PSP, a smart device for the intradermal delivery of INO-4800.
Now, Inovio is teaming up with Ology Bioservices, a privately held company that focuses on the development and manufacturing of vaccines and biologics. The two biotech companies received a grant of $11.9 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture INO-4800. Given the urgency of the situation, Inovio and OlogyBioservices are expected to expedite the manufacture of INO-4800 and deliver some to the Defense Department for clinical trials as soon as possible.
Image Source: Getty Images.
Inovio famously claimed that it created INO-4800 in just three hours after the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was made public by Chinese researchers on Jan. 10. The company expects to start its own clinical trials for the vaccine next month.
Meanwhile, other companies are pushing ahead in their attempts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Most notably, the U.S. National Institutes of Health is currently leading a phase 1 clinical trial for a potentialSARS-CoV-2 vaccine that was developed by Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA). The trial will enroll 45 healthy adult volunteers who will each receive two doses of the vaccine. The goals of the trial are to test the safety of the vaccine, its ability to trigger the body's immune response, and the dosage that causes expected side effects.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2020) - Soligenix Inc. (NasdaqGS: SNGX), through its Public Health Solutions business segment, announced on Monday that the company is expanding its ongoing collaboration with the University of Hawai'i at Manoa to assess potential coronavirus vaccines, including COVID-19. More specifically, the study is evaluating the application of the company's heat-stabilization technology that has the potential to substantially alleviate the strains of cold-storage and distribution challenges associated with vaccines that need to progress quickly through supply channels.
The heat-stabilization technology has demonstrated the feasibility of developing heat-stable subunit filovirus vaccines, including the Ebola virus disease caused by either Zaire or Sudan ebolavirus variants, as well as Marburg virus disease, with both monovalent and bivalent vaccine combinations.
Investors sent shares higher by more than 17% at the market open. Zacks Small-Cap Research updated its coverage on Soligenix as well and raised its valuation of the stock to $12.00 per share. The increase is based on its adjusted DCF model that takes into account potential future revenues from SGX301 and SGX942.
Vaccine Heat-Stabilization Can Be A Substantial Franchise
According to Soligenix, formulation conditions have been identified to enable heat stabilization of each antigen, alone or in combination, for at least 12 weeks at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Soligenix and its collaborators are expanding the technology platform to assess compatibility with coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.
The funding for the expanded program is expected to be financed by non-dilutive funding sources, such as the US government.
Most certainly, heat-stabilization technology can be a lucrative franchise. It would enable the distribution of vital vaccine products to get distributed almost seamlessly through distribution channels that are not favorable to cold-storage. The technology has proven an ability to maintain therapeutic potency at holding temperatures as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soligenix highlighted three essential components of the heat-stabilization platform:
1) a protein antigen, specifically a viral surface glycoprotein, which mediates entry and fusion of the virus with host cells and is manufactured with a proprietary insect cell expression system coupled with protein-specific affinity purification;
2) an adjuvant which has been shown to enhance both cell-mediated and humoral immunity; and
3) a formulation which enables thermostabilization of the resulting mixture, avoiding the need for cold chain storage and shipping
Combined, the resulting vaccine is broadly applicable, including individuals often excluded from common viral vector vaccine approaches such as children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. These same components can now be applied to coronavirus vaccine, using well-defined surface glycoprotein(s) from one or more coronaviruses, which will include critical antigens expected to be protective for COVID-19. The protection of elderly and immunocompromised populations is particularly important in the context of COVID-19.
Data Supports Heat-Stabilization Compatibility For Coronavirus
The platform has already produced encouraging results. Dr. Lehrer, Assistant Professor, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology at the JABSOM, stated, "Our work to date has demonstrated not only the feasibility of rapid and efficient manufacturing, but also the potential for a broadly applicable and easily distributed vaccine. We are delighted with our successes on development of filovirus and flavivirus vaccines using our platform and look forward to accelerated studies with the coronaviruses.
Also, JABSOM Dean Jerris R. Hedges, MD, MS, MMM, said, "It is rewarding to see ongoing work by JABSOM investigators and collaborators expanding on successful research on filovirus vaccines (protecting against viruses such as Ebola and Marburg virus) that may help us make unique life-saving contributions during this difficult time in healthcare. The prospect of a science lab in Hawaii helping develop a vaccine amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the importance of local research in Hawaii."
Soligenix Well-Positioned To Contribute To COVID-19 Platform
Through its Public Health Solutions business segment, Soligenix is well-positioned to create a subunit vaccine with enhanced stability at elevated temperatures. Undoubtedly, the result can prevent the costs and logistical burdens associated with cold chain storage and distribution, and has the potential to provide a distinct advantage over other vaccines currently in development and simplifies worldwide delivery.
Because of the pace of advancement of the filovirus vaccine platform, Soligenix added in its release that the program is optimally poised to look at other viruses and infections, including COVID-19.
The news on Monday followed the company's release last Thursday that reported positive statistically significant topline data for its pivotal Phase 3 SGX301 FLASH trial. That Phase 3 study is evaluating SGX301 to treat patients with CTCL. A report of those findings can be found here.
Story continues
Media Contact:Ken EllisKen@soulstringmedia.com
Disclaimer
This communication was produced by PCG Digital Holdings, LLC, and affiliate of PCG Advisory Inc., (together "PCG"). PCG is an integrated investor relations, communications and strategic advisory firm. The information contained on this may be 'Paid Advertising' for purposes of Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations there under, the "Securities Act"). PCG may be compensated by respective clients for publicizing information relating to its client's securities. For more information in terms of compensation received for services provided by PCG, see the pertinent advertising materials relating to the respective client. By accessing this Site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
PCG is not a registered or licensed broker, dealer, broker-dealer, investment adviser nor investment manager, nor does PCG engage in any activities that would require such registrations. PCG does not provide investment advice, endorsement, analysis or recommendations with respect to any securities, and its services to or statements about its clients should never be construed as any endorsement of or opinion about any security of any client. No information contained in this communication constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other similar product or service regardless of whether such security, product, or service is referenced in this communication. Further, nothing in this communication is intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice and nothing in this communication should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment or security or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. For full disclaimers, including compensation received for professional services, please click here.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53735
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel vaccines, and Clover Biopharmaceuticals, a China-based global clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel and transformative biologic therapies, today announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to develop a vaccine candidate to prevent COVID-19. Clover is advancing evaluation of its protein-based coronavirus vaccine candidate (COVID-19 S-Trimer) in preclinical studies. Dynavax is providing technical expertise and the companys proprietary toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist adjuvant, CpG 1018, to support this initiative.
In late-January 2020, upon knowing the genomic DNA sequence of the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes a disease named COVID-19, Clover scientists started designing the viral spike (S)-protein construct and completed its gene synthesis. Utilizing its patented Trimer-Tag technology, Clover has produced a COVID-19 S-Trimer subunit vaccine candidate that resembles the native trimeric viral spike via a rapid mammalian cell-culture based expression system. Having one of the largest in-house, commercial-scale cGMP biomanufacturing capabilities in China, Clover could potentially rapidly scale-up and produce large-quantities of a new coronavirus vaccine.
"At Clover, we are eager to begin evaluating the combination of our S-Trimer vaccine candidate and Dynavaxs CpG 1018 adjuvant, as we believe adjuvants could play an important role in developing a successful and widely-available vaccine for this pandemic," said Joshua Liang, Chief Strategy Officer at Clover and co-inventor of COVID-19 S-Trimer vaccine. "Leveraging our proprietary Trimer-Tag technology, S-Trimer is being rapidly developed to support global efforts in combating the current and any future coronavirus outbreaks."
CpG 1018 is the adjuvant used in HEPLISAV-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant), Adjuvanted], an adult hepatitis B vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dynavax developed CpG 1018 to provide an increased vaccine immune response, which has been demonstrated in HEPLISAV-B. CpG 1018 provides a welldeveloped technology and a significant safety database, potentially accelerating the development and large-scale manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"Successfully responding to this public health emergency will require a collaborative approach, combining technologies and sharing data, to rapidly develop a vaccine to prevent COVID-19," commented Ryan Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Dynavax. "We are proud to contribute to this global effort with the goal of supporting rapid development and enabling large-scale manufacturing through the utilization of CpG 1018 which has already been successfully implemented in an approved, marketed vaccine in the U.S."
About the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (and COVID-19 Disease)
SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus identified in late 2019 and belongs to a family of enveloped RNA viruses that include MERS and SARS, both of which caused serious human infections of respiratory system. The virus, which causes a disease named COVID-19, has never before been found in humans. Since this outbreak was first reported in late-2019, the virus has infected over 334,000 people and has caused over 14,600 reported deaths (as of 23 March 2020). It has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently there is no vaccine available for COVID-19.
About COVID-19 S-Trimer Vaccine
Utilizing Trimer-Tag technology, S-Trimer is a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-protein subunit vaccine candidate. Similar to other enveloped RNA viruses such as HIV, RSV and Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 is also an RNA virus that has a trimeric spike (S) protein on its viral envelope. The trimeric S protein of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for binding to host cell surface receptor ACE2 and subsequent viral entry, making it the primary target antigen for vaccine development. S-Trimer resembles the native trimeric viral spike protein and is produced via a rapid mammalian cell-culture based expression system.
About Clover Biopharmaceuticals
China based Clover Biopharmaceuticals is a global, clinical-stage, research-based biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing transformative biologic therapies, with a focus on oncology and autoimmune diseases, as well as viral vaccines. Having raised more than US$ 100 million in total capital since 2016, Clover is utilizing its proprietary Trimer-Tag technology platform to develop novel biologics targeting trimerization-dependent pathways. Additionally, Clover is leveraging its in-house cGMP biomanufacturing capabilities to develop select biosimilars. For more information, please visit our website: www.cloverbiopharma.com.
Story continues
About Dynavax
Dynavax is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing novel vaccines. The Company launched its first commercial product, HEPLISAV-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant), Adjuvanted], in February 2018, following U.S. FDA approval for prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus in adults age 18 years and older. Dynavax is also advancing CpG 1018 as an advanced vaccine adjuvant through research collaborations and partnerships. For more information, visit www.dynavax.com.
###
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200324005368/en/
Contacts
Contact - Clover BiopharmaceuticalsJoshua Liang, +86 028-63925705joshua.liang@cloverbiopharma.com
Contacts - Dynavax Nicole Arndt, Senior Manager, Investor Relationsnarndt@dynavax.com 510-665-7264
Derek Cole, PresidentInvestor Relations Advisory Solutionsderek.cole@IRadvisory.com
Scientists race to find COVID-19 vaccine, as global cases of infection climb Yahoo Finance
On this edition of Your Call, we're discussing the race to find a treatment for COVID-19.
More than 20 companies are working on a vaccine and other products related to the new virus, and the industry is set to make huge profits. How much will these treatments cost and who will have access?
Guests:
Sharon Lerner, award winning health and environment reporter for The Intercept
Gerlad Posner, award-winning journalist and author of Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America
Web Resources:
The Intercept, Sharon Lerner: BIG PHARMA PREPARES TO PROFIT FROM THE CORONAVIRUS
Gerlad Posner: Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America
The NY Times: Big Pharma May Pose an Obstacle to Vaccine Development
The NY Time: How Big Pharma Grew Addicted to Big Profits
The NY Times: Trumps Embrace of Unproven Drugs to Treat Coronavirus Defies Science
Did you know that one of the first breakthroughs in COVID-19 vaccine development involved computer engineering?
Way before the World Health Organization announced the novel coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, a group of scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) were already making significant fundamental findings.
Led by data scientists Professor Matthew McKay and Dr Ahmed Abdul Quadeer, the team successfully identified a set of potential vaccine targets for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in late February.
They drew on data previously collated to fight the SARS-CoV virus, which caused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. Through this analysis, they identified protein fragments that would respond to the virus thus setting the direction for novel vaccine development.
Among the SARS epitopes that can trigger an immune action, we found a small fraction which exists in both SARS and COVID-19, with their genetic sequences being exactly the same. We believe these are the most likely candidates which can trigger an immune response against COVID-19, said Professor McKay.
Source: HKUST, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering
Combining his joint expertise in the Departments of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering, Professor McKay was able to shed light on the new virus with crucial data findings.
Such is the widespread potential of data in the world of science and technology. But if youre considering a computer engineering postgraduate degree, youre probably already fully aware of this, with dreams to create similar breakthroughs.
Here are four leading institutes where you can make this happen.
This university is the top regional choice for research and taught postgraduate programmes leading to Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electronic and Computer Engineering.
The courses cover various modern technologies including wireless communications, microelectronics, and automation. All courses are taught in English by dedicated, highly knowledgeable professors which makes it a dynamic, international setting for your computer engineering postgraduate.
Boasting a strong research culture, the university is supported by over 100 research grants and sponsored by the Hong Kong SAR Government and industries. ECE champions the study of pertinent topics such as Integrated Circuits and Systems and Data Science and AI.
Source: HKUST, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering
Professors are ever ready to offer insights and expertise on projects with commercialisation potential. On top of that, students make full use of state-of-the-art facilities to carry out cutting-edge research and multimedia learning.
The exposure, support and facilities prepare graduates for careers across traditional and emerging industries alike. Their combination of technical expertise and leadership skills makes a recipe for success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
HKUST currently has over 300 postgraduate students and 42 teaching faculty members. With its strategic position within the Greater Bay Area, the university is primed to receive a growing number of international students from Asia and beyond.
The University of Torontos ECE department is part of its Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and is known as one of the best in North America.
The three postgraduate degrees on offer at this university are Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Source: University of Toronto, Edward S Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
This department is built upon the expertise of 75 distinguished professors from a range of specialisations, including electromagnetics, energy systems, photonics and systems control.
Surely, they are behind the high commercialisation rate of research projects 14 new start-up companies have sprung up from the departments professors and students since 2012.
On top of these, the universitys location in the heart of vibrant Toronto also speaks for its global culture and first-class amenities, ensuring every computer engineering postgraduate enjoys a good quality of life in the Canadian cosmopolitan.
This department is one of seven at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. It is divided into three sub-specialisations: Circuits & Embedded Systems, Physical & Wave Electronics, and Signals & Systems.
This creates a clear distinction between the numerous research projects going on at the department, which is conducive to multidisciplinary collaborations. The university greatly encourages such collaborations, which often involve faculty members and students from medicine, physics, mathematics, and theatre & film.
Source: UCLA Department of Electrical Engineering
One UCLA advantage is that the Masters programme is also offered online.
Given its reputation, the university only accepts and educates the cream of the crop. In the 2017/2018 academic year, for instance, 497 of 1756 applicants were accepted into graduate school.
Los Angeles is buzzing with activity and excitement, be it in culinary and entertainment hotspots or arts and culture happenings. With more museums and theatres than any other US city, students are spoiled for choice with options for leisure.
Switzerlands leading STEM university doesnt just produce industry-ready computer engineering postgraduates it is also a leader in biomedical engineering and brain research.
This makes it the right choice for students looking to study topics at the intersection of engineering and biology.
Source: ETH Zurich Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
Besides the main Masters in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, this university also offers interdisciplinary Masters programmes such as MSc Quantum Engineering and MSc Micro and Nanosystems.
These programmes are strengthened by the departments global faculty, who bring years of knowledge from different industries and backgrounds.
With 17 research laboratories, research is surely a priority at ETH Zurich. The department focuses on core research areas of electronics and photonics, information and communication, energy, and biomedical engineering to devise solutions in sustainable energy, information management and healthcare.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
HKUST: Creating electronic engineering leaders of tomorrow
This team of international students are the heroes we need during COVID-19
Singapore scientists plan to start testing COVID-19 vaccine this year: Gan Kim Yong CNA
