Dynavax and Valneva to Jointly Advance Development of COVID-19 Vaccine

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Emeryville, CA, USA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel vaccines, has entered into an agreement with Valneva SE (Saint-Herblain, France), a specialty vaccine company focused on prevention against diseases with major unmet needs, to initiate a vaccine program for the current coronavirus, COVID-19.

Valneva’s scientific team has explored opportunities to rapidly leverage the company’s existing technology, capabilities and infrastructure to create a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in response to the current pandemic. Valneva is leveraging its well-established platform for IXIARO, the company’s commercial vaccine product indicated for active immunization for the prevention of Japanese encephalitis. The platform operates on a highly purified Vero-cell based, inactivated, whole virus strategy for vaccine development.

Dynavax is providing technical expertise and the company’s proprietary toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist adjuvant, CpG 1018, the adjuvant used in HEPLISAV-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant), Adjuvanted], an adult hepatitis B vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dynavax developed CpG 1018 to provide an increased vaccine immune response, which has been demonstrated in HEPLISAV-B. CpG 1018 provides a well-developed technology and a significant safety database, potentially accelerating the development and large-scale manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine. Valneva and Dynavax will work with regulatory authorities to align on the optimal strategy to execute an expedited clinical development path, with the goal to initiate clinical trials before the end of 2020.

“Valneva aims to contribute to a world in which no one dies or suffers from a vaccine-preventable disease, such as COVID-19,” said Wolfgang Bender, Ph.D., M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva. “Although different vaccine technologies are being deployed in the global effort to combat COVID-19, we believe that a proven approach is the best option for rapidly delivering a safe and effective vaccine. The proven approach that we are taking to develop VLA2001 has the potential to yield protection for the general population, as well as high risk groups, including the elderly, immuno-compromised and individuals suffering from other diseases.”

“Now more than ever, the world is feeling the crucial role vaccines play in protecting our families, communities, and those at high risk for infectious disease,” said Ryan Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Dynavax. “Dynavax’s mission is to investigate, innovate, and improve vaccines to provide protection for an unpredictable world. We are pleased to partner with Valneva on this important development effort to address the global health crisis spawned by COVID-19.”

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Valneva SE