MVA NP + M1 Influenza Vaccine - Isis Project No 3360

A new flu vaccine developed at Oxford has been shown to be safe and immunogenic in Phase I clinical trials. The vaccine, based on a replication-deficient MVA virus, is able to generate potent T-cell responses.

Marketing Opportunity

A vaccine which avoids the requirement for seasonal reformulation would reduce the risk of new strains of flu becoming common in the 6 month lead time needed to produce the vaccines in large quantities. The Oxford vaccine could also be complementary to other new flu vaccines which generate strong antibody responses.

The Oxford Invention

Current flu vaccines use specific proteins from the influenza virus (Haemaglutinnin and Neuraminidase) to stimulate protective immune responses. However, there is considerable seasonal variation in these proteins, which means a vaccine produced one year may be ineffective the next. New vaccines therefore need to be produced every year to keep up with this variation, and different vaccines will be needed if a new flu pandemic occurs.

Oxford researchers have instead used different, less variable proteins (Nucleoprotein and Matrix protein) as a basis for an improved flu vaccine. These proteins, which are conserved in avian flu viruses as well as those causing seasonal human flu, are expressed by a viral vector (MVA), which acts as an adjuvant, stimulating powerful T-cell responses. Such responses are increasingly thought to be important in providing immunity to the flu virus. The vaccine has recently been tested in a Phase I clinical trial, which showed it to be well tolerated and immunogenic.

Patent Status

The Oxford invention is the subject of European and US patent applications. Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager.

Request Further Information: Project Number 3360 - MVA NP + N1 Influenza Vaccine