Immuno Cure and PharmaJet Join Forces to Boost HIV Vaccine with Needle-Free Technology

Immuno Cure and PharmaJet Collaborate to Advance a Vaccine

Image Credits: Biospace

Announcement

Immuno Cure Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology group located in the Hong Kong Science Park, is initiating a collaboration with PharmaJet to examine the immunogenicity and safety of HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine, ICVAX, provided through PharmaJet’s innovative Tropis needle-free injection system. Immuno Cure and PharmaJet conducted a material transfer agreement (MTA) signing ceremony at the BIO 2025 International convention in Boston.

Need

HIV/AIDS is a complex health challenge globally, though various advancements in prevention and treatment have been made. Around 39 million people were living with HIV, and 40 million deaths have been registered from the start of the epidemic in 1981. The antiretroviral therapy (ART) is acknowledged for reducing the virus in HIV-1-infected people, but it does not cure. This needs an effective and reliable immunotherapy that will improve the immune response to develop a state of functional cure and ART-free virological control.

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The ICVAX vaccine has hired ImmunoCure’s patented PD-1 developed DNA vaccine technology. This technology focuses on delivering sustainable immune-mediated HIV-1 virological control without relying on ART. After the successful first-in-human ICVAX phase 1 clinical trial, which confirmed immunogenicity and safety profiles. The current clinical study will find the various ways of usage of the WHO prequalified PharmaJet tropis device for reinforcing ICVAX.

ICVAX enables precise intradermal delivery via advanced needle-free technology. The manufacturing scale and tropis global regulatory clearances minimize the developmental risk; further, it might enhance the clinical experience of the patient and stimulate the DNA vaccine’s performance.

Additionally, the study of this vaccine will be held at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong SAR by Professor Grace LUI, the head of the division of infectious diseases at the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Views and Statements

CEO of Immuno Cure, Dr. Xia JIN, MD, PhD, said, “We are excited to partner with PharmaJet on the innovative approach to HIV treatment. The collaboration will enhance needle-free vaccination solutions and leverage the marketing potential globally for ICVAX and justify the vaccine's strength to bring positive change in HIV management."

Senior Vice President of Corporate Development of pharmaJet, Mr. Dan Mallon, said, “We are happy to contribute to Immuno Cure’s novel HIV-1 therapeutic vaccine program with the help of our patented needle-free injection technology. Our company is one of the global leaders in therapeutic delivery and nucleic acid-based vaccines, and we are empowered by the ability of the tropis intradermal delivery system to make a difference in the impact on HIV patients.”