Evaxion Launches AI-Powered Vaccine Program to Target Deadly Strep Infections

Evaxion’s New Vaccine Program

Image Credits: University of Alberta

Announcement

Evaxion, a techbio company leading in the development of AI-Immunology powered vaccines, has introduced a new vaccine program that is an add-on to the R&D pipeline. The company is encouraged to introduce a new preventive vaccine for fighting against Group A Streptococcus (GAS). It is a bacterium that causes millions of infections, posing a risk of various complications, also under life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria), scarlet fever-strep throat (less severe yet serious diseases), and rheumatic heart diseases.

New Vaccine Program

The EVX-B4 is a new vaccine program that has been added to the Research and Development pipeline of infectious disease vaccines and cancer candidates. Under this vaccine, the initial computational analysis elaborates that AI-immunology can recognize novel vaccine targets to compete with GAS. This will find ways to introduce relatable approaches to fight against the bacteria. Implementing AI-Immunology will leverage the preclinical development of EVX-B4. It will also enable effective and fastest target discovery and allow validation and design. These efforts will discover an extensive preclinical data package to fuel partnership discussions.

EVX-B4 is an achievement of Evaxion’s milestone and commitment set for 2025. Evaxion’s R&D now consists of three vaccine candidates for cancer and five vaccine candidates for infectious diseases. The expansion to the R&D pipeline will contribute to the company’s partnership strategy due to the increase in assets for out-licensing.

GAS

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for several conditions, including severe infections and life-threatening diseases. Invasive GAS infections, including diseases like rheumatic heart disease, sepsis, and toxic shock, can turn serious if prior treatment is not received.

There was a major shift and increase in the rate of invasive GAS diseases in the US in 2014. The count mostly includes adults from 18 to 64 years. Around 1,800 to 24,000 deaths and 20,000 to 27,000 cases are registered in the US. The seriousness and the requirement paved the way for the new vaccine program.

Views and Statements

CSO of Evaxion, Birgitte Rono, said, “The company is thrilled to add EVX-B4 to Evaxion’s R&D pipeline to introduce a vaccine which is not yet available for severe medical conditions due to various bacterial pathogens. The idea for the new vaccine program was evaluated under the guidance of a well-renowned professional to focus on GAS as a target. Our AI-immunology platform can provide essential benefits and eliminate GAS. The need for an option to prevent GAS is subject to the commercial and medical potential of EVX-B4. It will enable various partnerships.”