AstriVax Begins Clinical Trials with New Vaccine Platform

LEUVEN, Belgium I June 24, 2024 I The first participants have been administered doses in a Phase I clinical study to test the safety and efficacy of AstriVax’s prophylactic vaccines for yellow fever (AVX70120) and rabies (AVX70481) in healthy adults. This first-in-human safety and immunogenicity trial aims to advance AstriVax immunotherapies to combat chronic infections such as Hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

Named SAFYR, AstriVax’s inaugural clinical study is being conducted at two premier vaccine clinical trial sites in Belgium: the Centre for Vaccinology in Ghent and Vaccinopolis in Antwerp. The study will assess the safety and immune response of the company’s vaccines for yellow fever and rabies in nearly 100 healthy adults aged 18 to 40. The anticipated results will also provide clinical proof of concept for the AstriVax vaccine platform.

Mathieu Peeters, MD, Chief Development Officer at AstriVax, commented: “This clinical trial evaluates our advanced technology in a clinical proof-of-concept study. Our approach uses plasmids that deliver live-attenuated virus vectors along with the target viral antigen. This self-amplifying mechanism is designed to evoke strong and long-lasting immune responses with minimal doses.”

The new AstriVax vaccines are potentially transformative in the fight against viral pathogens. With the company’s innovative vaccine platform, these vaccines are easy to produce, have minimal cold chain requirements, and are expected to induce a strong and enduring immune response.

AstriVax is currently a clinical-stage company with a robust pipeline targeting viral infections, including the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical needs like chronic Hepatitis B, which affects over 250 million individuals, and HPV infections, a leading cause of cervical cancer.

Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of AstriVax, remarked: “Less than two years ago, we embarked on this journey with academically developed technology and a €30 million seed round. In May 2023, we received a grant from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to further progress our technology. I am profoundly grateful to my exceptional team for transforming the company into what it is today. We look forward to continuing our journey towards improved global health. We anticipate our chronic hepatitis B immunotherapeutic will enter the clinical phase in 2025, marking another significant milestone for AstriVax.”

Founded in 2022, AstriVax NV aims to tackle global challenges in vaccinology with its innovative plug-and-play vaccine platform. The company develops novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines that are simple to produce, have reduced cold chain requirements, and offer broad and long-lasting protection against various infectious diseases. AstriVax is backed by prominent investors including V-Bio Ventures, Fund+, Flanders Future TechFund managed by PMV, Thuja Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren, OMX Europe Venture Fund (Mérieux Equity Partners and Korys), BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, and the KU Leuven Gemma Frisius Fund. AstriVax is based in the BioHub in Leuven.