AstriVax announced in June 2024 that the first participants have been dosed in a Phase I clinical study to investigate the safety and efficacy of their prophylactic vaccines for yellow fever and rabies in healthy adults. The first-in-human clinical study is called SAFYR and will be conducted at two Belgium-based, world-class vaccine clinical trial sites, enrolling around 100 adults between the ages of 18 and 40.
An innovative platform
AstriVax’s PLLAV (Plasmid-Launched Live Attenuated Virus) technology is “easy to produce” with “limited cold chain requirements” and is “expected to trigger a strong and lasting immune response”. The company has a “rich” pipeline targeting viral infections. Dr Mathieu Peeters, Chief Development Officer at AstriVax, looks forward to the opportunity to evaluate the “cutting-edge technology in a clinical proof-of-concept study”.
“We use plasmids that deliver live-attenuated virus vectors along with the target viral antigen. This self-amplifying mechanism is designed to elicit strong and long-lasting immune responses with only microdoses.”
Dr Hanne Callewaert, CEO and co-founder of AstriVax, reflected on the “journey” that began “less than two years ago” with “solid, academically developed technology and a €30 million seed round”.
“In May 2023, we were awarded a grant from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to further advance our technology. I am deeply grateful to my exceptional team for shaping the company into what it is today, and I look forward to continuing our journey towards better global health together. We anticipate our chronic hepatitis B immunotherapeutic will enter the clinical phase in 2025, marking yet another significant milestone for AstriVax.”
To hear the latest in vaccine design and development at The World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona this October, get your tickets to join us here. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly vaccine updates and insights here.
