Company Spotlight: Emergex Vaccines

We recently caught up with Emergex Vaccines, eager to learn more about the company’s work developing a special kind of vaccine which could reduce regular booster jabs in the fight against Covid-19. The team are currently in clinical trials using microneedles to deliver the vaccines – as well as developing microneedle-based skin patches which will make administration of the vaccine much easier for patients and healthcare professionals.
Background
Founded in 2016, Emergex’s Research and Development (R&D) operation is based out of Milton Park. A clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel T-Cell priming vaccines, Emergex works to tackle some of the most serious health concerns facing the global population. From Dengue Fever, to Zika, Ebola, pandemic influenza and more recently Covid-19, Emergex offers an alternative to antibody-focused vaccines, which require frequent booster jabs.

T-Cells have been described as the ‘heavy armour’ of the immune system, playing a huge role in the immune response of the body. Current Covid vaccines are designed to elicit an antibody-based response, however by specifically targeting T-cells, this could potentially offer much longer (up to decades!) protection from disease.

What do Emergex do?
Emergex’s vaccine technology is designed to mimic the course of natural infection, providing a broad and robust immune response. Emergex’s work involves developing these vaccines to be given to patients through microneedles which deliver the vaccines to the top layer of skin. The vaccines are fully synthetic, allowing them to be stable at room temperature and easily transported across the globe to the patients who need it most.

Robin Cohen, Chief Commercial Officer at Emergex Vaccines, explains further: “Our T-Cell priming vaccines may offer significant benefits over current Covid-19 vaccines – including longer lasting immunity and broader protection against new variants and mutations. With the government’s current efforts in encouraging booster vaccine uptake with the Omicron variant, technology like ours could potentially see the need for regular boosters become redundant.”

Exciting times
This year has been incredibly exciting for the team, with a great deal of clinical investment and the first human clinical trials in Switzerland are underway.
The trial has two arms – one addressing Dengue Fever, which is currently in the follow-up stages, and another focusing on Covid-19 which will take place this month. The vaccine and microneedles being tested in the trials are likely to be used in a skin patch which is currently in development.
Robin added: “We’re delighted to see these trials take place and are excited for the upcoming data which will help to support the development of our vaccines for both Covid-19 and Dengue Fever – helping to address the most current healthcare crisis as well as bringing the potential for robust and long-lasting immune protection to some of the world’s most impacting diseases.

Why Milton Park?
Robin added: “With our R&D facility being based at Milton Park, we benefit from state-of the-art, modern facilities within a hub of life science innovation. We’re very proud to be part of this biotechnology cluster, surrounded by likeminded companies in a welcoming environment.”

Philip Campbell, Commercial Director at Milton Park, said: “As a science and technology community, we’re committed to growing and providing a hub for our businesses to innovate and collaborate – it’s a real honour to have Emergex’s inspiring work in vaccine technology take place here with us.”

To learn more about Emergex and the company’s latest news, visit the website: https://emergexvaccines.com/