LEAD ADJUVANT PROBE AS A DUAL TECHNOLOGICAL TOOL TO ADVANCE NEXT-GENERATION VACCINE DEVELOPMENT

Project Information

ADJUPROBE

Grant agreement ID: 101138844

DOI

10.3030/101138844

Project closed

EC signature date 15 November 2023

Start date 1 September 2024

End date 28 February 2026

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOCIENCIAS
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ADJUPROBE (LEAD ADJUVANT PROBE AS A DUAL TECHNOLOGICAL TOOL TO ADVANCE NEXT-GENERATION VACCINE DEVELOPMENT)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2026-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Adjuvants are crucial components of vaccines to boost their performance, increasing the immunogenicity of the antigen and leading to improved overall immunity. Despite the promise of the QS-21 adjuvant, there are still some inherent limitations that preclude its use as a stand-alone adjuvant, including an unknown molecular mechanism of action. The development of new-to-nature QS-21 variants with optimized properties and features has emerged as a practical solution for pharmaceutical and vaccine companies. In ADJUPROBE, we have developed and exploited a semi-synthetic lead adjuvant tool, advancing the innovation potential of our dual technological asset. The overall objectives involved demonstration of the scalability and bioactivity of our adjuvant in preclinical trials, while also validating a well-executed intellectual property strategy and seeking commercialization opportunities for our technology. Moving our asset closer to the market through the creation of a spin-off company would have significant impact at two levels: 1] boosting the economy by promoting industrial innovation and clinical trials, as well as 2] benefiting the health care system and ultimately patients in need for improved vaccine solutions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

ADJUPROBE has enabled important progress on the technical development of our lead adjuvant tool, yielding access to a scaled-up semi-synthetic saponin candidate with potent activity and no-toxicity as validated in preclinical settings, while also gaining important insights into the basis of their adjuvant function. Moreover, we have consolidated our intellectual property rights plan, obtaining a positive assessment of our PCT application and moving into the corresponding national phases. Likewise, we have delineated a public/private funding roadmap that can support the advancement of our strategy towards spin-off formation for further exploitation of our adjuvant technological tool.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The main results include:

1. Validation of our semi-synthetic technology enabled scalable access to a potent saponin lead. The associated impact relies on the potential to produce this adjuvant tool in gram amounts in anticipation of prospective process development in an industrial setting.
2. Extended preclinical testing of this candidate by evaluation of humoral and cellular immune responses in mouse vaccination models. The superior properties compared to QS-21 speak to the great impact of this result for further development. Despite this demonstration, defining a proper regulatory strategy is necessary before future clinical trials can commence.
3. Establishment of and advancement in our intellectual property rights plan, with a promising international report to our patent application, opening the door to subsequent entry into national phases.
4. Assessment of tech transfer and market opportunities for negotiations towards spin-off formation, which would have an important socioeconomic impact. Moreover, ongoing additional efforts in seeking investors and more public funding are required to move our adjuvant technology forward towards future commercialization.