Research programme: RNA virus vaccines - Sementis/University of South Australia
Alternative Names: Chikungunya vaccine - Sementis; SCV 301C; Zika virus vaccine - SementisLatest Information Update: 19 Oct 2023
At a glance
- Originator Sementis; University of South Australia
- Class Synthetic vaccines; Viral vaccines; Zika virus vaccines
- Mechanism of Action Immunostimulants
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Orphan Drug Status
Orphan designation is assigned by a regulatory body to encourage companies to develop drugs for rare diseases.
- New Molecular Entity No
Highest Development Phases
- No development reported Chikungunya virus infections; Zika virus infection
Most Recent Events
- 28 Mar 2020 No recent reports of development identified for research development in Zika-virus-infection(Prevention) in Australia (SC)
- 28 Apr 2019 No recent reports of development identified for preclinical development in Chikungunya-virus-infections(Prevention) in Australia (SC)
- 05 Nov 2018 Sementis in-licenses ImplaVax® technology to develop RNA virus vaccines implant for Chikungunya virus infections and Zika virus infection
Development Overview
Introduction
Sementis is developing vaccines for the prevention of diseases caused by RNA viruses including Chikungunya and Zika virus infections. The vaccines are developed using the Sementis Copenhagen Vector (SCV) technology, which uses a replication-incompetent vaccinia virus to stimulate B and T cell immune responses against the disease antigens incorporated in the vector, using recombinant genetic technologies. The Chikungunya vaccine is co-developed by Sementis and the University of South Australia. Vaccines will be administered through Enesi Pharma's ImplaVax® technology. Preclinical development is underway for Chikungunya early research is underway for Zika virus infections in Australia.
ImplaVax® is an innovative and proprietary needle-free solid dose implant and device technology for subcutaneous vaccination. ImplaVax-enabled vaccines can deliver superior immune responses, compared with standard injection protocols, having other benefits such as safety, ease of use, reliability and stability.
As at April 2019, no recent reports of development had been identified for preclinical development in Chikungunya-virus-infections (Prevention) in Australia (SC).
As at March 2020, no recent reports of development had been identified for research development in Zika-virus-infection (Prevention) in Australia (SC).
In January 2023, Enesi Pharma changed its name to aVaxziPen (Enesi Pharma website, January 2023).
Company Agreements
In November 2018, Enesi Pharma (now now aVaxziPen) entered into a research collaboration agreement with Sementis to develop and evaluate the solid dose versions of Sementis' lead peanut hypo-allergy vaccine and single vectored Chikungunya/Zika vaccine candidates for administration via Enesi Pharma's ImplaVax® technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Enesi will formulate solid dose implants based on SCV vaccine provided by Sementis, and Sementis will undertake safety and immunogenicity testing, and preclinical development. [1]
The University of South Australia expanded their earlier collaboration with Sementis to include Zika virus vaccine. The organisations had collaborated earlier for the development of the Chikungunya vaccine [2] .
Sementis is collaborating with the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to conduct Chikungunya challenge studies to test efficacy of Sementis’ Chikungunya vaccine (Sementis company presentation, November 2015).
Key Development Milestones
Sementis' single vectored RNA virus vaccine showed effectiveness in proof-of-concept studies in mice by protecting against Zika and chikungunya from a single vaccination shot [1] .
In a preclinical study mice were vaccinated with either with SCV 301C vaccine, a vaccinia virus or a placebo and then challenged with Chikungunya virus. SCV 301C vaccination prevented viral replication and viral spread via the blood stream, compared with the vaccinia virus and placebo groups that were infected with Chikungunya virus that indicated no changes (Sementis company presentation, March 2015).
Drug Properties & Chemical Synopsis
- Route of administration SC
- Formulation unspecified
- Class Synthetic vaccines, Viral vaccines, Zika virus vaccines
- Mechanism of Action Immunostimulants
-
WHO ATC code
J07B-X (Other viral vaccines)
-
EPhMRA code
J7E9 (All other viral vaccines)
Development Status
Summary Table
Indication | Qualifier | Patient Segment | Phase | Countries | Route / Formulation | Developers | Event Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chikungunya virus infections | - | Prevention | No development reported (Preclinical) | Australia | SC / unspecified | Sementis, University of South Australia | 28 Apr 2019 |
Zika virus infection | - | Prevention | No development reported (Research) | Australia | SC / unspecified | Sementis, University of South Australia | 28 Mar 2020 |
Commercial Information
Involved Organisations
Organisation | Involvement | Countries |
---|---|---|
University of South Australia | Originator | Australia |
Sementis | Originator | Australia |
University of South Australia | Owner | Australia |
Sementis | Owner | Australia |
aVaxziPen | Technology Provider | United-Kingdom |
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute | Collaborator | Australia |
Development History
Event Date | Update Type | Comment |
---|---|---|
01 Jan 2023 | Company Involvement | Enesi Pharma is now called aVaxziPen (Enesi Pharma website, January 2023) Updated 19 Oct 2023 |
28 Mar 2020 | Phase Change - No development reported | No recent reports of development identified for research development in Zika-virus-infection(Prevention) in Australia (SC) Updated 28 Mar 2020 |
28 Apr 2019 | Phase Change - No development reported | No recent reports of development identified for preclinical development in Chikungunya-virus-infections(Prevention) in Australia (SC) Updated 28 Apr 2019 |
05 Nov 2018 | Licensing Status | Sementis in-licenses ImplaVax® technology to develop RNA virus vaccines implant for Chikungunya virus infections and Zika virus infection [1] Updated 13 Nov 2018 |
03 Feb 2016 | Licensing Status | University of Queensland expands collaboration with Sementis for the development of a Zika virus vaccine [2] Updated 05 Feb 2016 |
03 Feb 2016 | Phase Change | Early research in Zika virus infection (Prevention) in Australia (SC) Updated 05 Feb 2016 |
17 Mar 2015 | Phase Change - Preclinical | Preclinical trials in Chikungunya virus infections (Prevention) in Australia (SC) Updated 05 Feb 2016 |
References
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Enesi Pharma and Sementis Sign R&D Collaboration Focused on Needle-free Solid Dose Vaccines for Peanut Allergy and Chikungunya/Zika Infection.
Media Release -
UniSA-industry partnership seeks vaccine for Zika virus.
Media Release
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