MigVax Raises USD 12 Million for Development of Oral COVID-19 Sub-Unit Vaccine

Newly formed MigVax (Kiryat Shemona, Israel), an affiliate of The Migal Galilee Research Institute (MIGAL), has raised USD 12 million from crowdfunding venture investment platform, OurCrowd. MIGAL is pioneering the effort to develop Israel’s human vaccine against COVID-19 and the investment will accelerate path to clinical trials and bring Israel’s human coronavirus vaccine to market.

MIGAL has previously developed a vaccine against the Avian Infectious Bronchitis (IBV) virus, a coronavirus strain which causes bronchial disease affecting poultry. The safety and effectiveness of the poultry vaccine has been proven in animal trials carried out at Israel’s Veterinary institute. The vaccine was successfully tested in chickens and not only was able to demonstrate neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immunity but more importantly, the vaccine prevented infection in immunized chickens from IBV challenge. The scientists believe that this is the first vaccine to demonstrate prevention of challenge in an in-vivo setting. Based on comparison of the IBV and COVID-19 it was seen that the basis of the chicken vaccine could provide a significant basis for the generation of a human vaccine.

MigVax is using the methods learned from the existing vaccine to develop a new oral subunit human vaccine against COVID-19. The MigVax approach utilizes a chimeric protein that presents the viral proteins to the immune system via the oropharynx. This approach (again based on the IBV vaccine) generates three kinds of immunological response: mucosal immunity- IgA, blood-based immunity-IgG 3 and cell mediated immunity. Mucosal immunity can prevent infection via the oropharynx. This is significant because it has the chance to prevent a detrimental immune response that may result with only IgG based immunity. Cell mediated immunity, may help clear viral infected cells. On the manufacturing side, the vaccine is made using bacterial fermentation, thus the ability to manufacture millions of doses quickly is easily attainable.

“The experiments we have carried out so far show that because the vaccine does not include the virus itself, it will be safe to use in immune-suppressed recipients, and has fewer chances of side effects,” said David Zigdon, CEO of the Migal GalileeResearch Institute. “It uses a protein vector that can form and secrete a chimeric soluble protein which carries the viral antigen into tissue and causes the production of antibodies against the virus by the immune system. We are now working to adjust our generic vaccine system to COVID-19. Using a fermentation process, MigVax aims to have the material ready for clinical trials within a few months.”

“We feel that the vaccine has already shown high safety and efficiency in animal models and we believe the approach we are taking is safer with a higher likelihood of achieving a meaningful immune response,” said OurCrowd Venture Partner Morris Laster, who is leading the investment.

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