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Companies Pharma Biotech

  VacciGuard
BACKGROUND
Based on its novel technology, VacciGuard is developing effective vaccines against many violent pathogens — for which there is currently no effective vaccine solution — and against devastating diseases such as cancer. Proof of concept was obtained in mouse models for five pathogens: Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitis type B, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Murine Cytomegalovirus (MCMV).
 

TECHNOLOGY
The inventors discovered that poor immunogenic antigens (carbohydrates, peptides) conjugated to HSP-60-derived peptides become remarkably effective vaccines. HSP-60 gives a powerful signal to the immune system because it is a chaperone/stress protein, conserved throughout evolution, and up-regulated at sites of inflammation, infections, and other kind of stress. Therefore, HSP-60 peptide conjugates convert a weak antigen into a strong immunogen.
 
Currently VacciGuard is developing the following projects:
  • VG-WNV (WNV) No current vaccine exists; no subunit vaccine under development; supporting results inanimal models (5 repetitions, 3 virus strains)

  • VG-LC (Lung cancer) 1.3M deaths/year; 5Y survival rate 15%; supporting results in relevant animal model

  • VG-FLU (Influenza universal vaccine) No suchapproved vaccine; animal experiments are ongoing
Project update: VacciGuard signed an agreement with a large U.S. vaccine company to support the proof of concept of one of the projects.

MARKET NEED & SIZE
Infectious diseases are responsible for a third of all deaths, killing at least 15 million people a year. On top of this high death toll, infectious diseases significantly disable millions more. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. According to WHO, about 1.3 million people die every year from lung cancer. The five-year survival rate is only 15%, in comparison to 88% for breast cancer and 99% for prostate cancer.
 
The global vaccine market is estimated at $11 billion. It is expected to grow to $17 billion in 2010, representing 10% growth per year. The current market for influenza vaccines is about $1.1 billion; the WNV market is estimated at about $400 million, and the lung cancer market is estimated at $3.7 billion.
 

TEAM
Professor Irun Cohen, M.D., Inventor. Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science; research yielded basis for a therapeutic agent for Type 1 diabetes, currently in clinical development (Phase III)

Professor Bracha Rager, Ph.D., Inventor. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; former chief scientist, Ministry of Health and president of the Israel Society for Microbiology

Professor Angel Progader, Ph.D., Inventor. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben-Gurion University

ADVISORS
Prof. Myron Levine, M.D., D.T.P.H. Advisor. Director, Center of Vaccine Development, Maryland University; world expert in epidemiology, developed up to market the attenuated live oral Salmonella typhi vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine

Stephen Udem, M.D., Ph.D., Advisor. Internationally recognized virologist and vaccinologist; senior R&D positions in Wyeth’s vaccine division; managed the IAVI’s Vaccine Development programs

Prof. Shai Ashkenazi, M.D., M.Sc., Advisor. Professor of pediatrics, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; world expert in infectious diseases

Irit Pinchasi, Ph.D., Advisor. Served as VP Global Innovative R&D, Teva; managed development of Copaxone® from academia to market
 Contact Us
VacciGuard Ltd.
Anat Eitan, CEO
Tel: +972.9.899.8933 or +972.52.431.3526
E-mail: zeitan@netvision.net.il
Web: www.vacciguard.com

 Development Status
COMPANY STATUS
Founded: February 2007
Investors: The Trendlines Group, Misgav Venture Accelerator, founders

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Two U.S. patents granted; three additional applications in national phase, PCT and provisional, respectively

FUNDING
VacciGuard seeks an additional $2 million to support the phase I/II clinical development of one of the projects.
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