Vaxess and GC Pharma to Collaborate on Development of Highly Effective Influenza Vaccine Smart Release Patch

Vaxess and GC Pharma will collaborate on Influenza vaccine smart release patch, in a deal which will give Vaxess exclusive rights to commercialize the MIMIX Flu Smart Release Patch in the US and Europe, while GC Pharma obtains rights for the South Korean market.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SEOUL, South Korea–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GC Pharma, a leading manufacturer of influenza vaccines with a global reach, and Vaxess, an innovative biotechnology company developing the MIMIX smart release patch, have partnered to commercialize a highly effective, painless, and refrigeration-free flu vaccine in a new, convenient patch format.

Influenza viruses infect nearly 20 percent of the global population each year, leading to severe illness and hospitalization for millions of individuals. Suboptimal efficacy and challenges with patient compliance limit the public health impact of influenza vaccines despite their availability.

The MIMIX smart release patch technology has demonstrated the capacity to enhance the efficacy of commercially available, FDA-approved influenza vaccines, as well as ease the distribution and administration to patients. The MIMIX smart release patch strengthens responses against both vaccine-included and drifted influenza strains through the use of sustained antigen presentation. This more accurately mimics a natural infection, thereby driving stronger, broader, and more durable HAI titers and influenza-specific T-cell responses. Moreover, immunization via the shelf-stable MIMIX patch simplifies delivery, patient administration, and compliance. Combining the GC Pharma influenza vaccine and Vaxess smart release patch technology creates a powerful partnership to commercialize a more effective vaccine that can be easily administered to everyone.

“GC Pharma is continually pushing the bounds of innovation in the influenza vaccine space,” said Michael Schrader, CEO of Vaxess. “We’re thrilled to work with them to improve upon the performance of existing vaccines while providing a novel product format that can dramatically increase global reach.”

This partnership announcement comes just a few months after Vaxess announced a financing round led by The Engine and receipt of federal grant support for the development of the MIMIX flu smart release patch. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.