Osivax Secures Key Funding to Advance Next-Gen Influenza Vaccines
Osivax, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing next-generation vaccines that offer broad-spectrum protection against highly mutating respiratory viruses, has successfully secured strategic funding to accelerate the development of its influenza vaccine candidates. The company announced the successful first close of its Series B financing round, raising €10 million from both new and existing investors, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing mission to revolutionize influenza prevention.
Strengthening Osivax’s Financial and Strategic Position
Osivax’s latest financing round introduces Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., a prominent Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in infectious diseases, as a new investor. With a distinguished legacy spanning over 75 years, Meiji Seika Pharma is a subsidiary of the Meiji Group, bringing extensive experience in vaccine development and commercialization. Their investment signals strong confidence in Osivax’s innovative approach to vaccine development and reinforces a shared commitment to advancing solutions for respiratory infectious diseases.
The newly secured funds, in combination with non-dilutive funding, will be strategically deployed to propel the preclinical and clinical development of Osivax’s lead influenza vaccine candidate, OVX836. This investment is expected to bolster Osivax’s ability to drive forward its research initiatives and enhance its operational capabilities, ultimately expediting the availability of a much-needed broad-spectrum influenza vaccine.
The Promise of OVX836: A Broad-Spectrum Influenza Vaccine
Influenza continues to pose a significant public health challenge, particularly due to its ability to rapidly mutate and evade immune defenses. Traditional flu vaccines rely on surface proteins, such as hemagglutinin (HA), which are prone to frequent changes. This necessitates annual reformulation and vaccination, with varying effectiveness depending on the accuracy of strain predictions. Osivax’s OVX836 vaccine takes a fundamentally different approach, focusing on nucleoproteins (NP) that are highly conserved across influenza strains.
Nucleoproteins play a crucial role in the viral replication cycle and are less susceptible to antigenic drift and shift, making them an ideal target for a universal vaccine. By harnessing its proprietary oligoDOM® technology platform, Osivax has designed OVX836 to induce a robust and durable immune response, engaging both T cells and antibodies for broader and longer-lasting protection against multiple influenza strains.
Advancing Clinical Development: The Phase 2b Field Efficacy Study
The newly secured funding will be instrumental in supporting Osivax’s ongoing Phase 2b field efficacy study (NCT05569239), a pivotal clinical trial designed to assess the performance of OVX836 in a real-world setting. The study is currently underway with a cohort of 2,850 participants across multiple international sites, comparing OVX836 against a placebo. This large-scale trial represents a major step forward in demonstrating the vaccine’s effectiveness in providing broad protection against influenza, irrespective of seasonal variations or strain mismatches.
Previous clinical studies of OVX836 have demonstrated promising safety and immunogenicity data, reinforcing the vaccine’s potential to provide an alternative to conventional flu shots. The Phase 2b study aims to further validate these findings by evaluating the vaccine’s ability to reduce influenza infection rates and severity of illness among vaccinated individuals. Should the study yield positive results, Osivax will be well-positioned to progress to late-stage clinical trials and eventual regulatory approval.
Investor Confidence and Industry Recognition
Osivax’s ability to attract a strategic investor like Meiji Seika Pharma is a testament to the company’s scientific rigor, innovative technology, and the growing global interest in developing a universal flu vaccine. Alexandre Le Vert, CEO and Co-Founder of Osivax, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating:
“This funding is a strong endorsement of our technology, our team, and our vision to develop broad-spectrum influenza vaccine candidates. We are gaining significant momentum in advancing Osivax’s development strategy, and we are thrilled to welcome Meiji Seika Pharma as a new investor. Their support, alongside that of our existing investors, reinforces our shared ambition to transform the prevention of respiratory infectious diseases.”
The influenza vaccine market is a multibillion-dollar industry, with current vaccines facing limitations in efficacy and adaptability. As the threat of seasonal flu continues to evolve alongside potential pandemic influenza strains, the demand for more effective, long-lasting vaccines has never been greater. Osivax’s innovative approach aligns with global efforts to enhance pandemic preparedness and improve vaccine technologies that do not rely on annual reformulation.
The Future of Osivax and Universal Influenza Vaccination
With its reinforced financial position, Osivax is poised to accelerate its research and development efforts, expanding its clinical studies while exploring potential applications of its oligoDOM® technology beyond influenza. The successful development and commercialization of OVX836 would not only redefine influenza prevention but could also pave the way for broader applications in combating other highly mutating respiratory viruses, such as coronaviruses.
Osivax’s progress is being closely monitored by key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and public health sectors, as the company continues to demonstrate the feasibility of a universal flu vaccine. A successful Phase 2b study could propel Osivax toward late-stage clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and strategic partnerships aimed at global vaccine distribution.
