Valo and ImmunoScape identify peptides for coronavirus vaccine development

Valo Therapeutics (Valo TX) has partnered with ImmunoScape to identify immunogenic peptides for pan-coronavirus vaccine development.

The detected conserved peptide sequences will be applied to adenoviruses to address efficacy problems with existing vaccines against novel Covid-19 variants.

Valo Therapeutics’ PeptiVAX platform offers a flexible and quick approach to address variants by coating the adenovirus with the associated clinical-grade target peptides instead of re-engineering and producing an entirely new viral vector.

Applying these peptides to adenovectors using PeptiVAX can generate robust T-cell responses against the selected antigens.

Valo Therapeutics CEO Paul Higham said: “Our PeptiVAX technology is rapidly adaptable to the emergence of new strains or even an entirely new coronavirus.

“By leveraging our innovative PeptiVAX technology platform with partners to identify novel peptides from conserved proteins beyond the currently identified spike proteins, our goal is to create a new vaccine that will not only protect against the current Covid-19 variants but also provide optimal resilience against potential future coronavirus pandemics.”

ImmunoScape’s immunomics-based technology platform offers insights into the human immune system and aids in a patient’s immunome characterisation at ultra-high resolution.

ImmunoScape CEO Choon-Peng Ng said: “The future of immunotherapy development depends upon an enhanced ability to observe and analyse the complex immune responses at high resolution.

“Our collaboration with Valo Tx gives us a powerful spotlight to find innovative ways to protect people from Covid-19 variants that may be resistant to current vaccines.”

On another note, NeuroRx has signed a feasibility and material transfer agreement (FMTA) to deliver ZYESAMI (aviptadil) materials to TFF Pharmaceuticals for conducting feasibility formulation work and testing.

ZYESAMI is a synthetic form of a naturally occurring peptide called Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), found in the lung. VIP protects the Alveolar Type II cell targeted by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The agreement intends to formulate and detect an optimal, long-term, stable formulation of ZYESAMI in a dry powder form with excellent aerosol properties for direct delivery into the lungs.