RocketVax is developing a promising second generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate, called RVX-13 which, instead of containing only one COVID-19 derived antigen, comprises all major immunogenic features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This unique technology aims at delivering a more efficacious vaccine and protect against all known variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Dr. Chris Yallop (COO; Batavia Biosciences) explains: “Batavia will collaborate with RocketVax to develop an innovative process able to rapidly deliver 1,000 doses of material for clinical trials. After successful completion, we will continue to scale-up and optimize the process for commercial scale.”
To ensure the vaccine is available as soon as possible and manufactured cost-effectively, Batavia will deploy its HIP-Vax® highly intensified manufacturing technology to deliver a robust and scalable clinical process for RVX-13.
Dr. Natasa Cmiljanovic (Executive Board member; RocketVax): “The company and production headquarters of RocketVax are located in Switzerland. With Batavia, RocketVax will enter into its first partnership abroad in order to be able to implement the production capacity of the vaccine on an expanded scale. Further partnerships are being planned.”
Dr. Menzo Havenga (CEO; Batavia Biosciences) added: “The vaccine developed by RocketVax is totally unique and highly promising, giving broad protection against diverse virus strains. We are proud that we are selected to deliver the product for clinical studies using our HIP-Vax technology.”
RocketVax aims to start the phase I clinical trials in Q2-2022.
About Batavia Biosciences
Batavia Biosciences significantly contributes to ease human suffering from infectious diseases and cancer by improving the success rate in the translation of candidate medicines from discovery to the clinic. We offer our innovative technologies and in-depth know-how in order to help our partners to complete preclinical phases in biopharmaceutical product development at higher speed, reduced costs and increased success. The company focuses on the early stages of product development including cell line generation, upstream process development, purification development, product characterization and clinical manufacturing. Headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with a subsidiary in Woburn, Massachusetts, and offices in Hong Kong, Batavia Biosciences is privileged to have strong strategic partners worldwide.
About RocketVax AG
RocketVax AG is a Swiss biotech startup based in Basel, founded in summer 2020. RocketVax AG is a subsidiary of Swiss Rockets AG. The company is based on the relationship between Swiss Rockets AG, a Swiss incubator and accelerator for startups, Gigabases Switzerland AG, a spin-off of ETH Zurich, and a team of expert scientists from the University of Basel, the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, the University Hospital Basel and the Swiss Institute of Tropical and Public Health in Basel. RocketVax AG uses proprietary molecular biology and chemical technology to develop novel vaccines. The innovative core technology on which the vaccine is based in the form of synthetically produced DNA was contributed by the ETH spin-off Gigabases Switzerland AG. Leading Swiss experts in immunology and virology have joined forces to implement a novel development concept against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.