Zika Virus Infection

Integral Molecular, a company that develops vaccines and therapeutics, announced a five-year $8 million contract from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The funding will be used to support the company's continuing research into emerging viruses recognized as potential pandemic threats. This marks the fourth similar contract awarded to the company in 15 years. Prior contracts allowed responses to virus outbreaks such as SARS-CoV-2, Zika, Ebola, dengue and chikungunya. Integral Molecular will utilize its mapping platform to pinpoint antibody binding sites (epitopes) on viruses, characterizing immune responses to viral threats. According to the company, this type of information can help scientists design effective vaccines. Additionally, Integral Molecular's Reporter Virus Particles (RVPs) is expected to play a vital role in the research. In a statement, the company said the non-replicative virus particles allow safe and high-throughput neutralization studies of highly pathogenic viruses with the use of standard laboratory facilities, and RVPs empower researchers to quickly develop vaccines and therapeutics. The NIAID contract will allow Integral Molecular to expand its research on potential pandemic threats, including Rift Valley Fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Enterovirus D68 viruses. "We are grateful to NIAID for their continued support and trust in our capabilities," Benjamin Doranz, CEO of Integral Molecular, said in a statement. "Viral threats can emerge quickly and with little warning. This contract enables us to contribute to pandemic preparedness by focusing on understudied viruses identified as potential threats, using our technologies to make virology research more accessible to laboratories around the world." THE LARGER TREND In June, Integral Molecular, received ISO 9001 certification for the quality systems and processes used in their virology offerings. In April, Integral Molecular launched its Virus Neutralization Assay Services, which permitted researchers to rapidly obtain high-quality data to advance their vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Neutralization Assay Services allow diverse applications including neutralization profiling for antibodies targeting viral proteins. That same month, researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), developed an artificial intelligence tool that predicts whether a patient will respond to cancer-treatment drugs using individual tumor cells, according to a study published in Nature Cancer. Conventional approaches to drug-patient matching center on bulk sequencing of tumor DNA and RNA. The new AI approach, PERCEPTION, takes advantage of single-cell RNA sequencing, which provides better-resolution data to fine-tune predicted drug responses. In 2022, Ro, a direct-to-patient care company, secured an agreement with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to develop the Registry for Equal Access to Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease (REACT-AD). Ro will employ its telehealth platform to screen and recruit patients who are at a heightened risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or other related dementia to join REACT-AD for potential participation in NIA-conducted and funded clinical trials. The NIA, part of the NIH, was charged with analyzing the data received and supervising the publication of research findings that emanate from REACT-AD.

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioVaxys Technology Corp. (CSE: BIOV) (FRA: 5LB) (OTCQB: BVAXF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Rajkannan Rajagopalan, PhD, as Advisor for development and production of the Company's DPX™ formulations. Dr. Rajagopalan has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Physical Chemistry, with over 20 years of experience in nanoparticles formulation development for biomolecules (peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, VLPs, mAbs) delivery to treat cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Most recently, Dr. Rajagopalan was Senior Director of Formulation Development at IMV, Inc., where he developed DPX-based vaccines to treat breast, ovarian, bladder and hard to reach cancers; and DPX-based RSV, Anthrax, ZIKA, Ebola, Tuberculosis and SARS infectious disease vaccines, as well as VLP-encapsulated DPX vaccines to treat Malaria and RSV infections. He also developed the DPX formulations for SurMAGE and KRAS/BRAS antigens to treat bladder and colorectal cancers, and formulation technology to deliver multiple peptides (up to 25 neoantigens) in a single DPX formulation for personalized cancer treatment, and an emulsion technology to co-deliver both small molecules chemotherapeutics and antibodies together for cancer treatments. In addition, Dr. Rajagopalan established that DPX technology can be used as a thermostable platform for vaccines with the inclusion of right additives (sugars and biodegradable polymers). Dr. Rajagopalan holds multiple patents to treat cancer and infectious diseases using DPX technology for the delivery of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and small molecules. Dr. Rajagopalan currently works for Toralgen Inc., as VP Formulation/Manufacturing and Scientific Development, overseeing the formulation development and CMC activities for the oral delivery of GLP-1 peptides and mAbs. Kenneth Kovan, BioVaxys President & Chief Operating Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to significantly expand our internal capabilities with the addition of Dr. Rajagopalan. He is a significant addition to our team, where in the near term he will assist with development of DPX formulations for our peanut allergy vaccine program with McMaster University, our planned preclinical studies of DPX/mRNA vaccines, as well as continued Phase 1 studies in oncology and infectious disease and expansion into new opportunities with DPX. As Dr. Rajagopalan was instrumental in the development of liposomes-based vaccine technology licensed to SpayVac and Zoetis for animal vaccines, he will be a tremendous help for our two current licensees. Dr. Rajagopalan will also help BioVaxys establish its own non-GLP clinical supply facility for production of DPX formulations." Dr. Rajagopalan joins Brittany Davison, a Chartered Professional Accountant and owner of Davison CPA Consulting Inc., as an Advisor with BioVaxys from the former IMV, Inc. where she previously served as Chief Accounting Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer. About BioVaxys Technology Corp. BioVaxys Technology Corp. () is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patient lives with novel immunotherapies based on its DPX™ immune-educating technology platform and its HapTenix© "neoantigen" tumor cell construct platform, for treating cancers, infectious disease, antigen desensitization for food allergy, and other immunological diseases. Through a differentiated mechanism of action, the DPX™ platform delivers instruction to the immune system to generate a specific, robust, and persistent immune response. The Company's clinical stage pipeline includes maveropepimut-S (MVP-S), based on the DPX™ platform, and is in Phase II clinical development for advanced Relapsed-Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and platinum resistant Ovarian Cancer. MVP-S delivers antigenic peptides from survivin, a well-recognized cancer antigen commonly overexpressed in advanced cancers, and also delivers an innate immune activator and a universal CD4 T cell helper peptide. MVP-S has been well tolerated and has demonstrated defined clinical benefit in multiple cancer indications as well as the activation of a targeted and sustained, survivin-specific anti-tumor immune response. BioVaxys is also developing DPX™+SurMAGE, a dual-targeted immunotherapy combining antigenic peptides for both the survivin and MAGE-A9 cancer proteins to elicit immune responses to these two distinct cancer antigens simultaneously, DPX™-RSV for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and BVX-0918, a personalized immunotherapeutic vaccine using its proprietary HapTenix© "neoantigen" tumor cell construct platform for refractive late-stage ovarian cancer. BioVaxys common shares are listed on the CSE under the stock symbol "BIOV" and trade on the Frankfurt Bourse (FRA: 5LB) and in the US (OTCQB: BVAXF). For more information, visit and connect with us on X and LinkedIn. Logo: ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "James Passin" James Passin, Chief Executive Officer Phone: +740 358 0555 Email: [email protected] Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, primarily the assumption that BioVaxys will be successful in developing and testing vaccines, that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies including, primarily but without limitation, the risk that BioVaxys' vaccines will not prove to be effective and/ or will not receive the required regulatory approvals. With regards to BioVaxys' business, there are a number of risks that could affect the development of its biotechnology products, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital to fund clinical trials, its lack of operating history, uncertainty about whether its products will complete the long, complex and expensive clinical trial and regulatory approval process for approval of new drugs necessary for marketing approval, uncertainty about whether its autologous cell vaccine immunotherapy can be developed to produce safe and effective products and, if so, whether its vaccine products will be commercially accepted and profitable, the expenses, delays and uncertainties and complications typically encountered by development stage biopharmaceutical businesses, financial and development obligations under license arrangements in order to protect its rights to its products and technologies, obtaining and protecting new intellectual property rights and avoiding infringement to third parties and their dependence on manufacturing by third parties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE BioVaxys Technology Corp. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Survey reveals that infectious disease experts see the need to address gaps in surveillance programs to identify emerging pathogens, public health funding and testing infrastructure capabilities They point to viral pathogens and mosquito-borne pathogens as likely to spark outbreaks as humans, animals and viruses overlap; and new viruses are as concerning as changes to existing viruses Experts believe robust tracking of changing insect range, animal habitats and their migrations and extreme weather events are important to understanding infectious diseases and changing risk patterns ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 17, 2024 — Abbott announced the findings of a new survey among leading infectious disease experts around the world on the state of pandemic preparedness and found that while most agree that preparation has improved since the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents say significant gaps remain in building surveillance programs to identify emerging pathogens, public health funding and having adequate testing infrastructure capabilities.1 The survey, commissioned by the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, asked more than 100 experts in virology, epidemiology and infectious diseases around the world about their priorities for addressing the gaps in readiness for disease outbreaks, their views on how the changing environment is impacting infectious diseases, and their suggestions for building a resilient healthcare system capable of identifying and responding to emerging disease outbreaks around the world. "Just as scientists have developed sophisticated monitoring systems to track emerging storms and hurricanes, our job as virus hunters is to identify pathogens that have the potential to spark outbreaks in order to stay one step ahead," said Gavin Cloherty, Ph.D., head of infectious disease research at Abbott and head of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition. "Disease surveillance acts as our radar, helping us prioritize which viruses are most likely to trigger an outbreak and where those outbreaks may occur." When asked to classify the types of pathogens that are most likely to start outbreaks:1 Respondents were evenly split on whether a new pathogen (50%) or changes in a known disease (50%) were a bigger threat for large-scale outbreaks. Nearly all (94%) believe viral pathogens are most likely to lead to widespread outbreaks, followed by bacteria, fungal and parasitic infections. A pathogen that is highly transmissible, a novel virus with no tests, treatments or vaccines available, and a virus that can transmit silently are the factors most likely to accelerate a local outbreak into an epidemic or pandemic; a known pathogen that's now drug resistant to treatments, a virus that causes high mortality, or one with high morbidity were less likely. The survey also asked infectious disease experts their perspective on the impact changes in the climate could have on the severity and frequency of infectious disease outbreaks, including extreme weather events and where insects and animals live. Experts identified mosquito-borne pathogens (61%) as representing the greatest threat to human health as the climate changes, compared to avian (21%), animal (14%) or tick-born (4%) pathogens.1 Viruses from mosquitoes – including dengue fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus and malaria – are common in tropical areas, including Latin America, Africa and Asia. Scientists are finding that warming temperatures and more flooding are pushing mosquitos that can carry these diseases to new places. Scientists predict that 1.3 billion people could be impacted by Zika by 2050 and 61% of the world’s population could be impacted by dengue by 2080.2-3 The survey results showed that infectious disease experts believe that robust tracking of changing insect ranges, animal habitats and their migrations, and extreme weather events are important to understand changing risk patterns for infectious diseases. "Temperature increases and extreme weather events are impacting how humans, animals and insects interact and we are finding mosquito-borne viruses in new places," said Jorge Osorio, DVM, Ph.D., M.S., a professor and director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-director of the Colombia-Wisconsin One Health Consortium. "As these viruses appear in more parts of the world, we need a globally coordinated effort to share learnings from countries who have been successfully managing these illnesses, as well as ensuring that effective surveillance and countermeasures are in place." As part of the survey, respondents were asked to share their priorities for addressing the most urgent gaps in the world’s current state of readiness. Surveillance programs to identify emerging pathogens, funding for public health infrastructure, testing infrastructure capabilities, increasing the numbers of epidemiologists and frontline workers, and diagnostic test development were cited as the top five areas for investment.  Private-public partnerships like the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, a network of more than 20 scientific and public health organizations around the globe, are focused on identifying, tracking and responding to known and emerging disease outbreaks to help prevent the next pandemic. The Coalition also partners with other entities such as the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network, the Global Virus Network (GVN) and the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), who have an ongoing commitment to pandemic preparedness, including training the next generation of epidemiologists and having an early detection and rapid response to outbreaks. Informed by the findings from the survey, members of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition recommend focusing on three priorities to maintain and strengthen the ability to manage local, regional and global infectious disease outbreaks: The Need to Address Gaps: Public health systems need surveillance programs to quickly identify new pathogens and outbreaks using the diverse set of tools available. Funding for public health should be available to sustain these programs and help train the next generation of virus hunters who help identify and respond to outbreaks as well as educate the public on infectious diseases.​ Know What We’re Looking For: While every outbreak is important to understand, only some have the potential to spark national, regional or global health concerns. Understanding the profile that presents the most risk enables the healthcare community to calibrate efforts to protect public health.​ As viruses are discovered in new locations, it’s important for the medical community and the general public to know what viruses may be circulating, pointing to the need to continue strengthening surveillance and education efforts. Understand the Changing Environment: Experts are nearly unanimous in their view that the evolving way humans, animals and insects overlap and interact will change the dynamics of infectious disease outbreaks. Continued research and investments in new technology are needed to help understand how those dynamics are at play locally – old diseases in new regions, acceleration of routes of transmission – to help guide more effective preparation. About the Survey: The Pandemic Preparedness Survey was commissioned by the members of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition to understand the views of the epidemiologists and disease surveillance experts on the current state of pandemic preparedness. Invitations to participate in the online survey were distributed to more than 400 experts at Coalition member institutions, the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network, the Global Virus Network (GVN), the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), as well as other academic research institutions. 103 experts fully completed the survey. The survey was conducted between April 2024 and June 2024 and participation was voluntary and anonymous. About Abbott: Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X and YouTube. 1APDC Pandemic Preparedness Survey. Full report available on Abbott.com. 2Smith, P. et al. (2024). Climate change impacts on global biodiversity. Global Change Biology, 30(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15384 3Brown, L et al. (2019). Microbial interactions in the human gut. Nature Microbiology, 4(8), 1234-1245. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0476-8