OSS, Netherlands, June 22, 2020 /CNW/ - IMMUNOPRECISE
ANTIBODIES LTD. (the "Company" or "IPA") (TSX VENTURE: IPA) (OTCQB:
IPATF) (FSE: TQB2), and LiteVax BV ("LiteVax") (the Netherlands), today announced that a
preclinical study to analyze the immunogenicity, safety and potency
of IPA's novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, when formulated with
LiteVax's Adjuvant (LVA), has been granted funding by TRANSVAC2,
which is expected to cover the complete costs of a preclinical
vaccine study. TRANSVAC2 is a network of leading European groups
working in the field of vaccine development, which itself is funded
by the European Commission.
That effort is one of a number of preclinical programs currently
being undertaken by IPA to assist in the efforts against
SARS-CoV-2. On March 12th, 2020, IPA
first announced details of its research on SARS-CoV-2 to develop a
PolyTopeTM monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy for the
treatment of patients with COVID-19, which could also be used
prophylactically in high risk patients who may have been exposed to
the virus. The Company also disclosed its intent to develop a
PolyTope vaccine, to be rationally designed based on large subsets
of data obtained during the development of the PolyTope mAb
Therapy. IPA then announced its intent to begin development of a
SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and then, on May
27th, 2020, IPA announced that, in collaboration
with the University of Victoria, the
Company had sought and received a grant from NSERC towards the
costs to develop a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic kit. Today's announcement
aims to provide an update to the Company's progress on the first
SARS-CoV-2 program announced by IPA, namely the efforts toward the
development of a PolyTope vaccine.
The purpose of the collaboration announced today between IPA and
LiteVax is to conduct a pre-clinical study to determine whether
IPA's protein-based vaccine candidates, formulated with LVA
(adjuvant), results in potent, neutralizing antibody responses
that confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a swine
animal model. IPA will supply protein-based vaccine
candidates and LiteVax will supply its LVA. Both parties will
retain full rights to their respective proprietary assets and
know-how used for the study. It is anticipated that pre-clinical
vaccine trials will begin in August, 2020, and that data will be
compiled by mid-November, 2020. Should the preclinical study prove
successful, IPA and LiteVax may then negotiate the terms for a
preclinical study in a second animal model, as well as details the
around the potential commercialization of any resulting
vaccine.
IPA's extensive therapeutic programs targeting the SARS-CoV-2
are providing the Company with unique and comprehensive data points
which are expected to be useful in the formulation of IPA's
anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential vaccine candidates. In addition, this
data is intended to inform the development by IPA of future
therapies and vaccines against novel coronavirus strains and
variants.
There is no assurance that ImmunoPrecise and LiteVax will be
successful in the development of a vaccine and/or therapeutic
against the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., Chief
Executive Officer of ImmunoPrecise, has reviewed and approved the
scientific disclosure of this news release.
Board Director Retires
Robert Beecroft has announced his
resignation from the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Beecroft was
the founder of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies and led the company for
over two decades, building quality services and products for
customers across the globe. He has served on the board since the
Company went public in 2016, assisting in the Company transition
and continuing to offer his expertise.
"None of what ImmunoPrecise has become today would be possible
without Rob Beecroft's vision,
perseverance and hard work," stated Dr. James Kuo, Chairman of IPA's board of
directors. His commitment to excellence is only matched by
his sense of camaraderie, which we were all privileged to
experience. On behalf of the entire board, we owe him our
profound gratitude and wish him well.
About TRANSVAC
TRANSVAC2 is a European vaccine research and development
(R&D) infrastructure that aims to accelerate the development of
safe, effective and affordable vaccines that shall be one of the
most successful and cost-effective public health tools for disease
prevention. However, vaccine development is time-consuming and
complex, requiring a combination of specialized skills and
technical capacities not readily available at a single
organization. In order to facilitate access to these skills and
capacities, and to promote collaborations in the European vaccine
landscape, TRANSVAC2 offers high quality technical services across
four different service platforms: Technology (for process
development and GMP production), Immunocorrelates & Systems
Biology, Animal models, and support for Clinical Trials.
TRANSVAC2 has received funding from the European Union's Horizon
2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N°
730964.
About LiteVax
LiteVax BV is a Dutch biopharmaceutical SME with the mission to
impact global health by developing and exploiting novel
immunoadjuvants to increase vaccine efficacy. New and more
effective vaccines against a wide range of infectious diseases are
needed as evidenced by the recent outbreaks. For further
information, please contact luuk.hilgers@litevax.com.
About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.
ImmunoPrecise is a full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery
Contract Research Organization offering species agnostic,
multi-format, characterized and engineered, human monoclonal
antibodies, on an abbreviated timeframe, for its pharmaceutical
clients. For further information, visit
www.immunoprecise.com or contact solutions@immunoprecise.com.
There is no assurance that ImmunoPrecise will be successful in the
development of a vaccine and/or therapeutic against the new
coronavirus.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains statements that, to the extent
they are not recitations of historical fact, may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. The Company uses words such as "may",
"would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "believe", "intend"
and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any
such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and
analyses made by ImmunoPrecise in light of its experience and its
perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected
future developments. However, whether actual results and
developments will conform to ImmunoPrecise's expectations and
predictions is subject to any number of risks, assumptions and
uncertainties. Many factors could cause ImmunoPrecise's actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such
factors include, among other things, ImmunoPrecise may not be
successful in the development of any vaccine, therapy or diagnostic
kits to be used in the prevention, treatment or diagnosis of
SARS-CoV-2. LiteVax and ImmunoPrecise may not be able to negotiate
the terms for further development or commercialization of any
product resulting from the collaboration. actual revenues and
earnings for IPA being lower than anticipated, potential adverse
impacts due to the global COVID-19 pandemic such as delays in
regulatory review, manufacturing and clinical trials, supply chain
interruptions and disruption of the global economy, and those risks
and uncertainties described in ImmunoPrecise's annual management
discussion and analysis for the previous quarter ended January 31, 2020 which can be accessed at
www.sedar.com. The "forward-looking statements" contained
herein speak only as of the date of this press release and, unless
required by applicable law, ImmunoPrecise undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise such information, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.