Nasvax
Status
NasVax Ltd (“NasVax”) began operations in August 2004, aiming to develop improved vaccines through applications of its VaxiSomeTM adjuvant / delivery system technology. The Company's lead candidate is in clinical trials and is an improved formulation for influenza vaccine that has been shown in preclinical studies to be significantly more immunogenic and protective than commercial influenza vaccine. Preclinical studies with hepatitis B, avian flu and anthrax vaccines also are ongoing.
Sector and Field of Activity
Vaccine, Biotechnology
Underlying Science and Technology
NasVax develops improved vaccines. Its VaxiSomeTM technology serves both as a potent adjuvant for stimulating enhanced immune responses via Th1 & Th2 pathways as well as an efficient delivery system. VaxiSomeTM enables administration by the intramuscular and intranasal routes and also may be applied to augment the bioactivity of established adjuvants and cytokines. The Company's lead candidate is an improved formulation for influenza vaccine that has been shown in preclinical studies to be significantly more immunogenic and protective than a commercial influenza vaccine. Preclinical studies with hepatitis B, avian flu and anthrax vaccines also have demonstrated the increased potency of the adjuvant for both intramuscular and intranasal administrations. NasVax is working with SciGen to develop improved hepatitis B vaccines for both routes of administration. NasVax’s technology is based on a synthetic polycationic sphingolipid derived from D-erythro-ceramide and spermine to form Ceramide Carbamoyl Spermine (CCS). CCS mixed with cholesterol (CCS/C) self-assembles into liposomes (VaxiSomeTM). The family of CCS lipids is protected by registered patents and patent applications. It was co-developed by Professors Eli Kedar and Yechezkel Barenholz, a co-inventor of the anti-cancer drug marketed in the USA by Johnson & Johnson (DoxilTM) and in Europe by Schering Plough (Caelyx). In an initial Phase 1 clinical study, the VaxiSomeTM-adjuvanted influenza vaccine was well tolerated by the intranasal route with only minor local symptoms. A Phase 1/2a study is ongoing in adults and elderly subjects to assess the safety and immunogenicity of VaxiSomeTM-adjuvanted conventional influenza vaccine administered intramuscularly.
Team – Management and Board of Directors
Erez Chimovits, CEO – Former President Compugen Inc., EVP Commercial Operations Compugen Ltd
Itzik Goldwaser, PhD, President – Former CEO NasVax, CTO and Chief Biologist Sol- Gel Technologies Ltd
Ronald Ellis, PhD, SVP & CTO – Former SVP R&D AVANT, SVP R&D ID Biomedical and Shire Biologics, Executive Director Merck Research Laboratories, Editor-in-Chief of Human Vaccines Journal
Yechezkel Barenholz, PhD, Co-Founder – Professor of Biochemistry and Daniel Miller Professor in Cancer Research, Hebrew University, co-inventor of Doxil®
Zvika Rubinstein, Chairman – CEO Meytav Technological Incubator, Former Managing Director Eureka Technologies Ltd
Yechezkel Israel, Director – VP Business Development ICL-Industrial Products company of Israel Chemical Industries, Ltd
Tomer Kariv, Director – CEO Pontifax, Chairman Biomedix
Safi Landskroner, Director – VP of Generic Business Development and Regulatory Affairs, Dexxon Ltd
Ran Nussbaum, Director – CEO Biomedix, Managing Partner Pontifax
Itamar Shalit, MD, Director – Director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit Schneider Children's Medical Center. Former Director General of Schneider Children's Hospital and Carmel Hospital
Yehuda Zelig, Director – Managing Director SciGen Israel
Einat Zisman, PhD, Director – Chief Business Officer Yeda
Intellectual Property Status An approved patent and several patent applications have been licensed from Hebrew University.
Investment / Collaboration
The Company had a successful IPO on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange in December 2005 and subsequent investment round in November 2007.
In view of its high potency, VaxiSomeTM increases the efficacy of various existing antigens and vaccines, may require lower and less frequent antigen doses, and enables nasal delivery in addition to traditional injection. NasVax seeks to provide its partners with access to its development programs via licensing and joint development arrangements, and to enable utilization of VaxiSomeTM for additional indications and applications not being actively explored by the company. NasVax also seeks access to novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine antigens . |
