Activation of innate immunity via cGAS-STING pathway to treat and prevent respiratory viral infections. The platform technology has been developed as a mucosal adjuvant for various vaccine antigen types. In seven different animal models, AuraVax has shown safety and efficacy.

In vivo research has shown that our mucosal adjuvant, NanoSTING-002, can safely boost the efficacy of subunit, WIV, and LAV antigens to provide protection to vaccinated subjects and block transmission of viral shedding to non-vaccinated subjects. Further, our research has shown that H1N1 LAV intranasal vaccines boosted with NansSTING-002 can provide cross protection to H5N1 challenge.

The formulation, manufacturing, product characterization and preclinical research for NanoSTING-002 is completed. AuraVax believes the adjuvant is ready for preclinical vaccine development. Currently, the company is pursuing GLP toxicity and safety studies to submit an IND and begin human testing (NansSTING-001 as a host directed therapeutic).

Battelle has established murine and ferret influenza infection models and conducted numerous vaccine efficacy studies. We have also established an influenza non-animal microphysiological system (MPS) using human lung cells. We maintain an influenza virus repository and can source novel strains as needed. We have validated HAI and microneutralization assays, along with a qualified NAI-ELLA, to support clinical trials. Our expertise includes creating, propagating, and characterizing candidate vaccine and wild-type influenza viruses, as well as using reverse genetics to generate recombinant viruses for cross-neutralization studies. Battelle’s rigorous quality management program supports IND filings.

Battelle has tested multiple vaccine routes in our nonclinical models including intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intranasal, inhalation, and intradermal.

We are looking for partners in need of nonclinical studies (proof of concept, dose-down, efficacy, naive pharmacokinetic, infected pharmacokinetic, etc.) or bioanalysis studies in support of their clinical trials.

Preclinical Testing

BIOQUAL can evaluate influenza vaccine candidates across relevant nonclinical models, including mice, ferrets, and nonhuman primates. Our capabilities support vaccine administration through various routes, including intramuscular, intranasal, subcutaneous, and other route-specific approaches, depending on the vaccine platform and study objectives.

Studies can be designed to assess the impact of delivery route on vaccine immunogenicity, protection, and viral replication following challenge. Comprehensive endpoints may include HAI, microneutralization, neuraminidase inhibition, ELISA, cellular immune responses, viral RNA/viral load, and clinical observations. These integrated models, delivery approaches, and analytical assays enable evaluation of route-dependent vaccine performance and provide translational data to support influenza vaccine development.

Vaccine providers with the technology to design and formulate a vaccine.

Boost's focus: novel protein subunit antigen platforms

Boost's influenza antigens have been evaluated in NHPs, and the Rapid Vaccine Antigen (RVA) platform is clinically demonstrated.

Boost is seeking partners with adjuvant and other technologies that could improve intranasal administration effectiveness of our protein subunit antigens. Boost's influenza antigens (non-adjuvanted) have already been demonstrated as safe and effective in NHPs, and we are seeking partners to further improve our vaccine performance.

2nd generation pandemic and seasonal live virus influenza vaccines

Intranasal delivery demonstrated HAI and nAb responses in small and NHP animal models

Deep and consistent intranasal upper respiratory tract delivery of live attenuated influenza vaccines

Our research team is experienced with mouse and ferret models of influenza infection. Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs). We have the ability to use highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates in mice and ferrets. We also have the ability to perform direct contact transmission studies in ferrets, these are useful to determine if vaccines are able to prevent virus shedding that is able to transmit the virus to unvaccinated animals.

Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs).

Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs). We have the ability to use highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates in mice and ferrets. We also have the ability to perform direct contact transmission studies in ferrets, these are useful to determine if vaccines are able to prevent virus shedding that is able to transmit the virus to unvaccinated animals. We are interested in partnering with MucInn teams to provide mouse and/or ferret vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies.

Rapid strain development, production and purification of protein antigens, enzymes, mAbs and other therapeutics

Complex influenza antigens can be expressed that combined with the right adjuvant can generate protection against influenza viruses including avian influenza H5, H7 & H9 as well as H1, H3, NA, etc...

We are looking for partners that need access to a robust, high yielding low-cost protein antigens that don't require viral clearance

InflammaSense reads endogenous inflammatory states that indicate a future response to vaccination.

InflammaSense is building a cadre of organ on chip models that emulate the host response to influenza vaccination and influenza infection.

We hope to partner with Vaccine development groups interested in clinical trial platforms with organoid and assembloid system with the aim to provide high throughout drug and vaccination testing at scale.

A formulation technology platform that thermostabilizes a wide range of biologics for ambient storage, eliminating the need for cold-chain infrastructure. The platform also enables mucosal administration (such as oral, sublingual, or intranasal) via liquid or self-administered solid film presentations. Our technology process can be readily integrated into manufacturing fill/ finish with no change in the upstream drug substance process or need for administration devices or lyophilization to stabilize. Thermostabilization and mucosal administration has been demonstrated in multiple envelope viruses

This mechanism enables viral antigens to remain protected during mucosal transit while being released at the appropriate immune inductive sites, supporting effective mucosal immune engagement. Key Features 1) Reversible polymer–antigen association without permanent encapsulation 2) pH-responsive protection during gastric transit 3) Increased antigen residence time at nasal, sublingual, and buccal surfaces 4) Preserved antigen integrity for uptake in GALT, NALT, SL/BU Mucosa

Influenza vaccine candidates ranging from cell culture, to live attenuated to inactivated are all applicable to the Jurata mucosal administration and thermostabilization technology

Immune profiling linking antibody Fc biophysical and functional features to clinical outcomes SeromYx combines a broad repertoire of high throughput antibody effector function assays using serum and mucosal samples and machine learning to enable rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and high-resolution profiling of immune signatures of disease progression, protection, and resolution. Our platform delivers actionable biological insights at clinical and population scale and has been applied across infectious disease, inflammation, cancer, and neurodegeneration, supporting the full discovery and drug development continuum.

Fc profiling in nonclinical models can identify influenza correlates of protection and discriminate between vaccine antigen compositions and adjuvant formulations, guiding decisions leading to clinical development

We seek partners who have influenza expertise, interest in antibody function as a marker of protection, access to well-characterized clinical and/or preclinical mucosal sample sets, and capabilities in vaccine and/or antibody therapeutic development that would enable studies that track antibody profile changes with treatment.

Vaccine adjuvants

Published data available for the use of BECC adjuvants in influenza pre-clinical models

TollereBio’s BECC adjuvant technology platform offers best in class, rationally designed TLR4 agonist adjuvants backed by pre-clinical data demonstrating the ability to elicit balanced Th1/Th2 immune responses, promote cross-protective immunity, enhance vaccine durability, and enable dose sparing. Our lead adjuvants BECC470s and BECC438s are fully synthetic, with structure specific purity and clear regulatory pathways for clinical development.

FcRn-mediated nasal delivery of influenza vaccine antigens

FcRn is expressed in nasal and airway epithelial cells and facilitates the transfer of IgG across mucosal epithelial layers. Transmucosis is exploring the use of FcRn to deliver engineered influenza vaccine antigens via the nasal route. Our preclinical studies demonstrate that FcRn can effectively deliver viral vaccine antigens across the respiratory epithelial barrier, thereby inducing protective mucosal and systemic immunity against
the infection and transmission of respiratory viral infections.

We are seeking a safe and effective mucosal adjuvant. We are also interested in a partner for manufacturing our vaccine antigen.

Development of vaccine adjuvants that are versatile for a broad range of respiratory pathogens

The small-molecule immuno-enhancing agents will be formulated into nanoparticles containing antigens. Nanoparticles will enable transmucosal, slow delivery of antigens and adjuvants via the intranasal route.

We seek the sources for (1) the antigens (the influenza virus proteins or components) and (2) pre-clinical evaluation service using ferrets.

Our primary focus is to develop an mRNA-LNP technology to enhance the Antigen Presentation Machinery in host cells and thereby strengthen immune recognition and activation. By increasing the expression of key components involved in antigen processing and presentation, including the MHC class I pathway, our approach aims to improve the visibility of infected cells to the immune system and promote stronger activation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses. In the context of mucosal viral infections, we are exploring the potential of our mRNA-LNPs as a mucosal immunomodulatory adjuvant that could enhance antigen presentation, support more effective antiviral immunity, and improve the clearance of infected cells when administered alongside, or incorporated into, antiviral or vaccine strategies. This work focuses on leveraging the host immune system rather than directly targeting the virus, with the goal of developing a broadly applicable platform for strengthening immune responses against respiratory and other mucosal viral infections.

Our mRNA-LNP technology can strengthen antigen presentation and antiviral T-cell immunity. The mRNA payload encodes a transcriptional activator of the Antigen Presentation Machinery, including MHC class I pathway genes such as TAP1/2 and B2M, thereby enhancing the processing and surface display of viral antigens on infected cells. In established influenza infection models in mice, including lethal or sublethal challenge with strains such as PR8 (H1N1), our mRNA-LNP could be administered systemically or via routes compatible with respiratory immunity to increase the visibility of infected cells to CD8+ T cells and promote more efficient immune clearance. Because our platform has already demonstrated strong in vivo activity in enhancing antigen presentation and synergizing with immune-based therapies in multiple preclinical models, including lung metastasis settings, it provides a mechanistically grounded and translationally relevant approach to test our mRNA-LNPs as an immunomodulatory component that can improve the protective efficacy of influenza vaccines in nonclinical studies.

In potential teaming partners, we are especially interested in groups that already have anti-viral candidates or platforms, so that we can jointly evaluate whether adding our mRNA-LNP technology improves the efficacy of their solutions in relevant influenza models. Beyond this, we seek complementary capabilities in mucosal vaccine development, influenza virology, and translational immunology to strengthen our proposal. Specifically, we value access to established nonclinical influenza infection models, including mouse and ferret systems, along with expertise in designing and executing challenge studies that measure survival, viral load, lung pathology, and antigen-specific T-cell and antibody responses. We also look for partners with experience in formulating and testing intranasal or other mucosal delivery platforms for mRNA-LNP vaccines, as well as analytical capabilities to assess biodistribution, mucosal immunity, and safety in the respiratory tract. On the regulatory and manufacturing side, we seek collaborators who can advise on or support GMP-compatible production of mRNA-LNP constructs suitable for mucosal administration and who understand the regulatory expectations for combination vaccine-adjuvant strategies targeting influenza. Finally, we are interested in partners with strong immunomonitoring and bioinformatics resources to dissect how enhanced antigen presentation shapes the quality, magnitude, and durability of anti-influenza immune responses, thereby de-risking translation and supporting a robust path toward clinical evaluation.

We have developed two technologies that allow for locally delivering vaccines to mucosal surfaces: 1) injectable biomaterial-based slow-release technologies that provide localized, controlled release of vaccine antigens and adjuvants, and 2) engineered proteins that can bind to mucins and anchor the biomaterials to mucosal surfaces, allowing for slow release vaccines directly to the mucosa. We are looking to partner with groups that have expertise in antigen/adjuvant development.

The delivered slow-release vaccines are anchored to mucosal surfaces when delivered either orally or by inhalation, allowing for slow release of vaccines directly to the mucosa.

We are looking to partner with groups that have expertise in antigen/adjuvant development