R&D Programs

Research & Development

R&D Programs

Influenza Vaccines

Novavax is targeting its research efforts initially on various strains of viral influenza. These include H1N1 pandemic influenza referred to as "swine flu", H5N1 pandemic influenza, often referred to as “bird flu,” and seasonal influenza, the flu strain that circulates each year. Novavax’s clinical data show the company’s VLP vaccines provide broad protection against a variety of influenza viral strains. Human clinical studies using Novavax's pandemic VLP vaccine began mid-2007.

Novavax’s collaborators on the influenza vaccines programs include the University of Pittsburgh and the Southern Research Institute, which is one of a handful of U.S. research facilities approved to handle live H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Flu Facts

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine
Comparison of antibody responses to RSV G Protein after
immunization with VLP-H/G, UV-RSV and live RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the primary cause of serious respiratory disease in infants and young children worldwide. The virus is also increasingly recognized as a significant pathogen in elderly populations. Bronchiolitis or pneumonia results in 25-40% of RSV infections of infants and between 0.5 and 2% of these infections result in hospitalization. Despite the incidence and severity of these infections, there is no RSV vaccine available. Immunoprophylaxis remains the only effective defense against this viral disease.

Virus- like particles (VLPs) are increasing being considered as safe, effective vaccine candidates. VLPs are particles released from cells expressing the major structural proteins of a virus. These particles are structurally similar to authentic virus and possess native conformational epitopes displayed in an array typical of virus particles. However, VLPs do not contain a genome and are, therefore, incapable of a spreading infection.

We have previously demonstrated that cells expressing the major structural proteins of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) release VLPs very efficiently and these VLPs stimulate robust immune responses in mice. 
RSV presentation December, 2009

 
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Vaccine

VZV is responsible for over 1 million cases of herpes zoster (shingles) in the US each year.

Primary complication is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which occurs in ~65% of affected patients.

 

Large market with only one vaccine supplies:

  • Government has issued a universal recommendation for all US citizens >60 years of age to be vaccinated against VZV

Current vaccine provides ~50% efficacy against shingles and ~66.5% efficacy against PHN.

Potential advantages of Novavax’s VZV vaccine:

  • Broad immune response
  • Potential safety advantages because of lack of replication
  • Manufacturing efficiencies: live VZV not needed for process
  • Vaccine is currently in discovery/preclinical development

HIV

Novavax has created a VLP-based vaccine to protect against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, with funding support from the National Institutes of Health. Scientific collaborators at Harvard Medical School, Emory University and the University of Alabama - Birmingham, have conducted pre-clinical testing using the vaccine. Further evaluation is under way.

Other Vaccine Opportunities

Novavax’s VLP approach has many potential applications and could be used to address a number of other common infectious diseases.

For more information about clinical trials with Novavax influenza vaccines, click here.