Avalon GloboCare Achieves Milestones in Advancing Novel Intranasal and Oral COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
June 25 2020 - 9:00AM
Avalon GloboCare Corp. (NASDAQ: AVCO) (Avalon or The Company), a
clinical-stage global developer of cell-based technologies and
therapeutics, announced today a strategic partnership with the
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna,
Austria to develop an S-layer vaccine that can be administered by
an intranasal or oral route against SARS-CoV-2, the novel
coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease.
The principal investigator of the co-development project is
BOKU’s Professor Uwe B. Sleytr, an eminent member of the Austrian
Academy of Sciences. Professor Sleytr is a pioneer of applied
surface layer (“S-layer”) nanotechnology, based on the repetitive
protein structures that make up the outer surface of microbial
cells. Dr. Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser, Professor and Head of the Institute
for Synthetic Bioarchitectures at BOKU, serves as the co-principal
investigator of the COVID-19 vaccine program.
Given the continued rise of COVID-19 cases around the world,
Avalon and the BOKU scientists are working closely to co-develop a
novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that would induce a sufficient immune
response to prevent a severe form of COVID-19, which causes
morbidity and often mortality. This vaccine strategy has the dual
advantages of ease of manufacturing and delivery. The candidate
vaccine is derived from a fusion of an S-layer viral particle mimic
with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and could be delivered
non-invasively via the nasal or oral passageways, rather than a
needle-based injection into the muscle or under the skin. The
S-layer protein-based vaccine is expected to both decrease the
severity of a SARS-CoV-2 infection—preventing the more severe
respiratory inflammation and organ damage seen in many COVID-19
patients—and build immunity against the virus.
This strategic partnership with BOKU leverages Avalon’s
expertise and resources in bio-manufacturing infrastructure and
clinical study implementation with the scientific capabilities and
deep experience of the laboratories of Professors Sleytr and
Ehmoser at BOKU. Professors Sleytr and Ehmoser have already made
substantial progress by developing the proprietary techniques
necessary to synthesize conjugate vaccines consisting of an S-layer
artificial viral envelope linked to a viral antigen. As a
proof of concept, the investigators have also shown that these
types of protein conjugate vaccine candidates are able to elicit
immune-protective antibody responses.
Avalon and Professor Sleytr have jointly filed a provisional
patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) pertaining to the nanoparticle S-layer based vaccine
against SARS-CoV-2.
The research is part of an ongoing and broader collaboration
between Avalon and BOKU that will utilize S-layer technology to
accelerate additional vaccine programs for other respiratory
infections including different strains of the flu (influenza A/B),
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other viruses. As part of
the partnership, Avalon is also actively exploring other practical
uses of S-layer technology including targeted drug delivery,
diagnostic devices, and therapeutic applications.
“We are encouraged by the progress we have made so far to
develop a novel COVID-19 vaccine during this unprecedented
world-wide health crisis,” said David Jin, M.D., Ph.D., President
and Chief Executive Officer of Avalon GloboCare. “We are working
swiftly and diligently with BOKU to complete the laboratory testing
and characterization of the S-layer fusion protein SARS-CoV-2
vaccine candidate. We believe that our novel vaccine approach has
the potential to be effective. Importantly, this vaccine candidate
could be manufactured and delivered more rapidly compared to
traditional vaccines, providing access and immunization to a larger
population of people around the globe to help combat the COVID-19
pandemic.”
About Avalon GloboCare Corp.
Avalon GloboCare Corp. (NASDAQ: AVCO) is a clinical-stage,
vertically-integrated, leading CellTech bio-developer dedicated to
advancing and empowering innovative, transformative immune effector
cell therapy, exosome technology, as well as COVID-19 related
diagnostics and therapeutics. Avalon also provides strategic
advisory and outsourcing services to facilitate and enhance its
clients' growth and development, as well as competitiveness in
healthcare and CellTech industry markets. Through its
subsidiary structure with unique integration of verticals from
innovative R&D to automated bioproduction and accelerated
clinical development, Avalon is establishing a leading role in the
fields of cellular immunotherapy (including CAR-T/NK), exosome
technology (ACTEXTM), and regenerative therapeutics. For more
information about Avalon GloboCare, please visit
www.avalon-globocare.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements
provide current expectations of future events based on certain
assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate
to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at
their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors,
actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ
materially because of more general factors including (without
limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth
rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy
changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press
release and these views could change. However, while the Company
may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point
in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to
do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon
as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to
the date of the press release.
Contact Information: Avalon GloboCare Corp.4400 Route 9, Suite
3100Freehold, NJ 07728PR@Avalon-GloboCare.com
Investor Relations:Crescendo Communications, LLCTel: (212)
671-1020 Ext. 304avco@crescendo-ir.com
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