New patent using Recombinant Overlapping Peptide (ROP technology) as novel approach to SARS-Cov-2 pandemic filed, after rapid development and initial testing
Oxford, UK – 24th November 2020 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release-Patent filed for Covid-19 vaccine and diagnostics 24-11-20
Oxford 24th November 2020; Oxford Vacmedix (OVM), the UK based biopharma company, focused on the development of a new generation of cancer vaccines, announced today that research work on Covid-19 started earlier in the year using the company’s novel ROP technology has been filed as a patent in the UK.
The research work, carried out partly in Oxford and partly on contract in China, aimed to develop a vaccine and diagnostics to address the Covid-19 pandemic, using a novel ROP design targeting several different active regions on the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Design, purification and initial manufacturing were completed in only a few months with initial testing showing a strong immune response in animal models. Alongside the vaccine two diagnostic tests targeting both T-cells and antibodies using the same ROP technology have also been developed. Further development will be undertaken when ongoing Series B fundraising is completed.
William Finch CEO of Oxford Vacmedix said:
“Whilst our primary focus is in the development of cancer vaccines, our recombinant overlapping peptide technology clearly offers a potentially effective approach to treating and preventing Covid-19. The company believes it is important to exploit our novel vaccine technology to contribute to the global research effort. We have a lot of confidence in our initial results, which have now been patented.”
Shisong Jiang, Founder and CSO of Oxford Vacmedix said:
“I am very pleased that we have been able to use the ROP technology to develop a novel vaccine and diagnostics for Covid-19. The strong immune responses and efficacy seen demonstrate the potential of the approach and the short development time also underlines our capability to rapidly develop new vaccines both for cancer and infectious diseases. I look forward to being able to take this work further”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
William Finch, CEO, Oxford Vacmedix
T: +44 (0)7769 903711 | E: wfinch@oxfordvacmedix.com
Notes to Editor
About Oxford Vacmedix
Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd, based on the Oxford Science Park, UK, is a bio-pharma company that utilizes the novel proprietary platform technology of recombinant overlapping peptides (ROPs) invented by Dr Shisong Jiang. ROPs have been validated as a technology to stimulate broad and strong T cell immunity therefore forming a good platform for cancer therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics. The company is a spin-out of the University of Oxford and has extensive contacts and collaborations in China through Changzhou Bioscience that is using the ROP platform in both diagnostics and adoptive cell therapy.
The company has two cancer vaccines in preclinical/ clinical development with the lead vaccine, OVM-200 targeting solid tumours, due to enter clinical trial early next year, and a strong pipeline. The vaccines have the potential to be used both alone and in combination with other immune-oncology (IO) agents. In addition to the follow-on cancer vaccines OVM is also researching mechanisms for oral delivery of vaccines.