Vaccine technology company SpyBiotech carries out first human test
Biotechnology company, SpyBiotech, has carried out the first human test of its vaccine.
The Oxford firm is aiming to develop vaccinations that can target infectious diseases, cancer, and chronic diseases.
Its SPYVLP01 product, which was tested on a human, is a candidate vaccine targeting human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) using its Hepatitis B virus-like-particle platform technology. There is currently no approved vaccine against HCMV.
The Phase I trial will be assessing safety and immunogenicity of the company’s HCMV vaccine in two different doses in healthy adults aged 18-50.
The study features a six-month dosing schedule and will be carried out in the UK. Target enrollment is approximately 120 participants and clinical data is expected in the first half of 2024.
Mark Leuchtenberger, Chief Executive Officer of SpyBiotech, said: “This is a crucial step forward in our evaluation of the safety and efficacy of SPYVLP01, a vaccine targeting HCMV, a leading infectious cause of congenital abnormalities.
“We see a great need for a vaccine against HCMV, as this virus causes thousands of permanent disabilities in newborns each year. We look forward to seeing clinical data in the first half of 2024.”
SpyBiotech’s novel SpyVLP vaccine platform is based on a proprietary protein “superglue” technology which binds antigens to vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimizes delivery risk and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy.
While the lead program is focused on HCMV, SpyBiotech’s vaccine technology can be applied to generate vaccines against a wide range of pathogens and therapeutic indications and is currently utilized by the company for several product candidates in development.
