PopVax Secures $1.15 Million Gates Foundation Funding to Develop Thermostable mRNA Vaccine Delivery

SciFocus/Oct 31, 2024 -- Indian biotech innovator PopVax has announced a $1.15 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support its pioneering work in thermostable mRNA vaccine formulations. Using novel lipid and polymer technology, this initiative aims to overcome temperature limitations for vaccine storage and expand mRNA vaccine access globally.

“Our new delivery formulations are intended to be stable at normal refrigerator temperatures while retaining potency across various routes of administration. Success here could enable rapid mRNA vaccine distribution worldwide—not only in wealthy countries.” – Soham Sankaran , Founder of PopVax

Highlights:

- Funding Source: $1.15 million grant from the Gates Foundation .

- Project Focus: Thermostable lipid-polymer formulations for mRNA vaccines, stable at regular refrigeration temperatures.

- Innovative Technology: Leveraging novel lipids, polymers, and computational protein design to create robust, temperature-flexible mRNA vaccines.

- Recent Milestones: Animal studies initiated in September 2024 to test efficacy of the new formulation.

- Key Personnel: Dr. Maunish Barvalia , VP of Platform Technologies and nucleic acid delivery expert, leading this research.

- Broader Impact: Increased accessibility for developing nations lacking cold storage, potentially mitigating both future pandemics and ongoing infectious diseases.

- Future Plans: Clinical trials for a next-gen COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. expected in 2025, with five additional trials slated over the next two years.

With support from the Gates Foundation, PopVax’s thermostable delivery platform for mRNA vaccines has the potential to revolutionize global vaccine distribution, ensuring critical therapies reach vulnerable populations worldwide. This partnership highlights a crucial step toward a more inclusive, science-driven approach to combating infectious disease.

https://popvax.com/

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