Eveliqure's effort to develop a Shigella-ETEC combination vaccine for travelers and children in resource poor countries is supported by the Wellcome Trust
Eveliqure Biotechnologies announces today the grant of a Wellcome Trust Innovator Award that supports the early clinical development of its Shigella-ETEC combination vaccine with ~£500K and complements the previously secured ~€11 million funding from public sources for the vaccine’s development (Horizon2020, Austrian Wirschaftservice and Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG).
Eveliqure’s vaccine, ShigETEC, is the only vaccine close to clinical testing that targets the two major bacterial pathogens causing diarrhea in travelers and military personnel to endemic countries and responsible for significant morbidity, mortality and stunting among children living in low- and middle-income countries. The Eveliqure technology is based on a uniquely designed Shigella vaccine strain that addresses the weaknesses of previous approaches by providing broad, serotype independent protection, and expected favourable safety profile. In addition, it also provides coverage for Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) by inducing an immune response to the two major pathogenic toxins. Compared to single pathogen approaches, ShigETEC has the potential to have a major impact on disease and addresses a substantially higher market. The first-in-man study is expected to start in Europe in H1 2020.
"We are very excited to receive this Innovator Award which will support us to take our ground-breaking ShigETEC vaccine into the clinic. Thanks to the Wellcome Trust, we can take a significant step towards our goal to prevent Shigella and ETEC diarrhea in children living in disease endemic regions and to protect travelers - said Gábor Somogyi, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Eveliqure.
"The Eveliqure vaccine can serve both the wealthy and poor populations suffering from the same disease. The attractive market potential of a dual-target travelers’ diarrhea vaccine and the huge unmet medical need in resource-poor countries allow the company to combine funding both from investors expecting attractive financial returns and public funds concerned about global health impact" – commented Eszter Nagy MD, PhD, Co-founder and President of Eveliqure.
According to the World Health Organization, diarrhoeal disease kills over 2000 children every day—more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. In addition, 30-50% of travelers visiting developing countries suffer from diarrhoea. Vaccines have been successfully developed for diarrhoeal disease caused by cholera and rotavirus. However, no effective vaccines exist against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) infections, which account for up to 50% of all diarrhoea cases.
ABOUT EVELIQURE
Eveliqure Biotechnologies (http://www.eveliqure.com/) is an Austrian based biotech company that is the game-changer amongst vaccine companies, championing novel technologies to make the world safe from diarrhoea.
Eveliqure is passionate about improving the quality of life for both the poor and the privileged by providing innovative medical solutions that fight diarrhoeal diseases.
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CONTACT
Sophie Zettl, PhD + 43 1909 2208 2313