HQ Team
October 7, 2024: UK-based DIOSynVax, a biotechnology company, has developed a single candidate vaccine neutralizing immune responses across the spectrum of very diverse H5 subtypes of influenza viruses.
The vaccine is designed to provide a broad protective net of eliminating the viruses that may cause the next human pandemic, according to a statement from the Cambridge-based company.
Prof Jonathan Heeney, Chief Scientific Officer of DIOSynVax and a leading Infectious Disease expert at Cambridge University the vaccine leveraged advanced computational technologies with rigorous animal testing.
It has shown “our ability to generate strong neutralizing antibodies effective against very different groups of H5 bird flu viruses (called clades) that have caused human infections around the world.
“This means countries will need only one DIOSynVax vaccine to combat them all, instead of current technologies based on selected strains of one particular clade that may not protect against the variety of H5 virus that ultimately causes the next pandemic in humans,” Prof Heeney said.
‘Prevention of a pandemic’
Bird flu, known as H5 influenza, has recently been detected in animal clusters, raising concerns about potential human-to-human transmission and the threat of a new pandemic.
H5N1, or bird flu, continues to circulate widely among migrating wild birds, infecting domestic birds and livestock, with documented human infections occurring.
Notably, some human infections have occurred without direct contact with infected animals, according to the company statement.
Data was presented at the Options XII conference for Advancements in Influenza Control in Brisbane.
Dr Ronald Moss, CEO of DIOSynVax said: ”We have broadly protective vaccine candidates that are now ready for clinical trials that address the key problem of variability that both seasonal current influenza and bird-flu vaccines.
“Given the recent concern about potential human-to-human transmission of bird flu, and not knowing what H5 virus strain that could be, is a powerful advantage that our unique vaccine platform offers.
“DIOSynVax vaccines provide a powerful advantage for the prevention of another influenza pandemic,” he said.
