A collaboration between Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX), a biotech company focused on cancer and inflammation, and the Hudson Institute of Medical Research has produced a novel ‘vaccine enhancer’ called SOF-VACTM.
The proprietary technology – based on the company’s SofraTM preclinical platform – has the potential to make mRNA vaccines safer, more cost-effective to produce and better tolerated by patients.
Specifically, the research team believes SOF-VAC is capable of reducing inflammation associated with mRNA vaccines while also supporting cheaper manufacturing.
Exciting, rapidly developing medical arena
“mRNA technologies represent one of today’s most exciting and rapidly developing areas of medicine,” Noxopharm CEO Dr Gisela Mautner said.
“They are expected to play an even greater role in the years ahead as they become applicable to numerous diseases and we believe SOF-VACTM could contribute significantly in this field.
“Our collaboration with the Hudson Institute team is delivering promising results in the lab and we aim to build on those and generate interest in our assets.
“To that end, we will dedicate appropriate resources to this initiative, releasing more data in the future as we further strengthen our IP position, while at the same time keeping on track with our oncology-related research activities.”
Noxopharm and its research partner have most recently demonstrated what they describe as “strong in vitro and in vivo activity against inflammation.”
NOX believes SOF-VACTM represents a first-in-class achievement as the smallest known molecule of its type to have demonstrated this activity, which reduces the risk of off-target effects compared to larger molecules of this type.
More to discover
“I have been active in this field of research for over 20 years, and am very excited about mRNA technologies like SOF-VACTM as we start to see their potential emerge,” Hudson Institute assistant professor Michael Gantier said.
“Today’s levels of industrial activity related to mRNA therapeutics and mRNA vaccines, in particular, are a testament to the maturity these technologies have reached.
“But there is still a lot more to discover and develop as we move forward to create new kinds of treatments based on these technologies.”