Either you have JavaScript disabled or your browser does not support Javascript . To work properly, this page requires JavaScript to be enabled.
How to enable JavaScript in your browser?

Research programme: RNA virus vaccines - Sementis/University of South Australia

Drug Profile

Research programme: RNA virus vaccines - Sementis/University of South Australia

Alternative Names: Chikungunya vaccine - Sementis; SCV 301C; Zika virus vaccine - Sementis

Latest 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
  • Orphan Drug Status

    Orphan designation is assigned by a regulatory body to encourage companies to develop drugs for rare diseases.

    No
  • 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

  1. Enesi Pharma and Sementis Sign R&D Collaboration Focused on Needle-free Solid Dose Vaccines for Peanut Allergy and Chikungunya/Zika Infection.

    Media Release
  2. UniSA-industry partnership seeks vaccine for Zika virus.

    Media Release
Back to top