BWV-201: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) vaccine program
We are developing BWV-201, licensed from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to prevent Acute Otitis Media, or AOM, and pneumococcal pneumonia in children and adults, a leading cause of hospital visits, prescription antibiotics. AOM due to S. pneumoniae infections range from 30 to 50% of all AOM infections each year. BWV-201 is a live attenuated serotype-independent intranasal vaccine candidate for S. pneumoniae induced AOM.
Monasta L, Ronfani L, Marchetti F, Montico M, Vecchi Brumatti L, Bavcar A, Grasso D, Barbiero C, Tamburlini G. Burden of disease caused by otitis media: systematic review and global estimates. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e36226.
Tong, S., Amand, C., Kieffer, A. et al. Trends in healthcare utilization and costs associated with acute otitis media in the United States during 2008–2014. BMC Health Serv Res 18, 318 (2018).
BWV-101 and BWV-102: Influenza vaccine program
BWV-101 is a universal influenza program licensed from the University of Oxford, where all relevant studies were performed to support our hypothesis. We are developing a broad-spectrum vaccine using patented epitopes of limited variability, or ELV, that provide cross reactive immune response to multiple historical flu strains. Additionally, based upon the successful pre-clinical proof-of-concept (POC) of our H1 epitopes, we are developing a stand-alone H1 influenza vaccine, BWV-102, to provide a long-lasting induced immune response. This POC will be leveraged to develop BWV-101 by studying the cross-reactivity of different flu strains, H1, H3 and influenza B. Data in mice models have demonstrated proof of concept of neutralization against historical and current H1 strains, which includes annual and pandemic strains. This would negate annual flu shots, reformulation and potentially provide protection against future influenza pandemics.
Publications
BWV-301: Norovirus-rotavirus vaccine program
We are developing a norovirus-rotavirus vaccine, BWV-301, to prevent gastroenteritis utilizing our S&P platform. Preclinical data from gnotobiotic pig studies have shown our vaccine can prevent severe gastroenteritis and reduces viral shedding. While rotavirus vaccines exist in the market, no norovirus vaccine is available to date. Our vaccine would protect people from two of the most globally prevalent viruses causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Xia M, Huang P, Sun C, Han L, Vago FS, Li K, Zhong W, Jiang W, Klassen JS, Jiang X, Tan M. Bioengineered Norovirus S60 Nanoparticles as a Multifunctional Vaccine Platform. ACS Nano. 2018 Nov 27;12(11):10665-10682.
BWV-302: Norovirus-malaria vaccine program
Additionally, we are currently investigating a malaria vaccine, BWV-302, utilizing our norovirus S&P platform. The vaccine is designed to offer protection from both norovirus and malaria, infectious diseases that occur frequently together in geographic regions. The vaccine utilizes a protein identified on the surface of the plasmodium parasite being presented on the surface of the norovirus nanoparticle.