Centivax secures $45M for universal flu shot clinical trials

Centivax, a biotechnology company, is making significant strides in the realm of universal vaccines, having recently secured $45 million in funding. This financial boost, led by Future Ventures, is aimed at propelling Centivax's universal flu vaccine candidate into clinical trials within eight months. The funds will support chemistry, manufacturing, and controls development, along with the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial. This trial will employ a haemagglutination-inhibition assay to assess the vaccine's efficacy against over 20 influenza strains, including seasonal, historical mismatch, and pandemic variants, comparing its performance to that of traditional flu vaccines.

Preclinical tests have already demonstrated that the vaccine offers consistent broad protection, notably against the H5N1 avian influenza. The company's recent funding round also saw participation from several other investors, such as NFX, BOLD Capital, Base4, Kendall Capital Partners, and Amplify Bio. This comes on top of a $10-million seed round Centivax raised in the previous year. Notably, with this latest fundraising effort, Emilio Emini joins Centivax's board. Emini brings a wealth of experience, having served as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute and held senior leadership roles in vaccine research at Pfizer and Merck & Co.

Jacob Glanville, Centivax's CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the financing, emphasizing that it aligns with the US government's objective to develop a universal flu vaccine within the next five years. He highlighted the potential of Centivax's epitope-focusing technology, which has shown promise in tackling various rapidly mutating pathogens, including RSV, HIV, malaria, oncology targets, and even universal antivenom.

Earlier this year, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched an initiative called Generation Gold Standard. This program aims to create next-generation universal vaccines for influenza and other viruses, such as coronaviruses, RSV, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza, using a beta-propiolactone-inactivated, whole-virus platform. Centivax's pursuit of a universal flu vaccine aligns with the objectives set by this initiative.

In addition to investor funding, Centivax has amassed $24 million in grant funding from various sources. This includes a $2-million award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with additional grants from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the National Institutes of Health, the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, and the US Naval Medical Research Command. These grants underscore the confidence in Centivax's approach and the potential impact of its universal vaccine efforts.

Centivax's advancements in vaccine technology and the financial backing it has garnered position the company as a key player in the development of universal vaccines. As global health organizations and governments push for broader protection against rapidly evolving viral threats, Centivax is poised to contribute significantly to these efforts. The upcoming clinical trials and ongoing research endeavors will be crucial in determining the efficacy and reach of Centivax's universal flu vaccine candidate, potentially paving the way for breakthroughs in combating influenza and other viral infections.