Glycovax Pharma, NRC, Montréal U, Partner to Develop Vax Against Pa Infections

Glycovax Pharma entered a strategic collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Université de Montréal to develop a glycoconjugate vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infections. This project is funded by a $467,661 grant from the Government of Quebec as well as financial support from other partners.

Pa is an opportunistic bacterium responsible for respiratory infections in humans. Highly prone to antibiotic resistance, Pa infections are a leading cause of hospital-acquired diseases and sometimes fatal infections among patients with cystic fibrosis.

Currently, no vaccine exists to prevent Pa infections. The NRC has identified a unique antigen present in the polysaccharide (sugar) capsule of most Pa strains. This discovery enabled the design of a vaccine capable of inducing an immune response with bactericidal activity against this bacterium, as observed in initial NRC R&D efficacy studies.

After securing a license from the NRC for this antigen, Glycovax leveraged its GlycoForge platform to optimize and manufacture the GVX-PA-01 vaccine, integrating: CRM-197 carrier protein, manufactured by Glycovax to ensure industrial reproducibility; and SLA, an innovative adjuvant developed by the NRC and manufactured by Glycovax, known for stimulating strong and durable immune responses.

Glycovax is now advancing preclinical development of GVX-PA-01 vaccine in collaboration with the NRC and the Université de Montréal.

Glycovax will continue GVX-PA-01 development through to human clinical trials. The availability of a vaccine against Pa for patients with cystic fibrosis and hospitalized individuals at risk of nosocomial infections would represent a major public health breakthrough in Canada and worldwide.