Abera Bioscience and Orexo have entered a partnership to develop and test the powder formulations of the former’s vaccine candidates against influenza, leveraging Orexo's AmorphOX technology.
The powder-based vaccine candidates will be tested for administration via nasal spray and nasal powder to compare the two methods.
Abera financially supported the partnership using grants it had previously secured. The main funding source is the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Orexo research and development head and senior vice-president Robert Rönn stated: ”Abera has an innovative and promising vaccine platform for the development of mucosal vaccines, as confirmed by their recent funding from CEPI.
“The collaboration is fully in line with our strategic development of the AmorphOX platform and through collaborations we can showcase the potential and value of our technology. We look forward to working with Abera, where our experience and technologies are highly complementary.”
A recent development grant from CEPI to Abera is intended to propel its BERA vaccine platform, particularly for mucosal vaccines against influenza. The aim is to create a rapid-response vaccine to prevent disease and transmission in potential future pandemics.
An intranasal influenza vaccine could significantly contribute to reducing infection spread and preventing disease, especially in the context of a future pandemic scenario.
Abera Bioscience CEO Maria Alriksson stated: “Influenza is a family of viruses that could mutate and cause the next pandemic, but seasonal influenza is already a major problem where vaccines are often not effective enough.
“Orexo has an impressive knowledge and technology for powder formulations of medicines that perfectly complements our expertise in vaccine development.”
Orexo's AmorphOX technology, which is central to the collaboration, is the powder formulation that comprises amorphous particles combining drugs, carriers and other ingredients, offering stability and rapid dissolution.
The technology has been validated in human clinical studies, exhibiting quick drug exposure.
