US DTRA contracts PsiOxus for biodefence vaccine adjuvants development

The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has contracted PsiOxus Therapeutics for development of biodefence vaccine adjuvants, to improve safety and efficacy of two vaccines.

Under the $3.3m contract, the company will use its PolyMAP technology to improve the vaccine recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) for Anthrax and the Venezuelan Equine Encephalopathy Virus (VEEV).

Combining polymers for the development of fully synthetic adjuvants, the immunotherapeutic PolyMAP technology increases the vaccines’ antigenic response.

PsiOxus Therapeutics CEO Dr. John Beadle said, "Adjuvant platforms are key to innovating and growing the global vaccine market, and we are confident that our immunotherapeutic platform PolyMAP, along with our oncolytic vaccines expertise and team of renowned scientists, will play a significant and long-term role in the future of the industry."

Work under the contract will be carried out over a period of three years in the US, as well as in the company’s new laboratory in Oxford.

The facility has been designed and equipped as a category two laboratory for the handling of live viruses.

Main properties of the PolyMAP platform are cooperative, multi-valent interactions for increased receptor avidity, clustering of receptors through cross-linking and the improved solubility of TLR ligands.

Providing quality tools and services for the warfighter, DTRA safeguards the nation from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high explosives) by controlling and reducing the threat.