OTS - Swiss Rockets AG announces the founding of ROCKETVAX for the development of a next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (part 1)
2020. November 10. 09:50
Basel, 10 November, 2020 (APA/OTS) - The rapid development of an
effective and safe vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is a top priority for
Swiss Rockets AG. A Basel-based subsidiary, RocketVax AG, was
founded to utilize innovative Swiss technologies and expertise to
achieve this goal.
"The development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine might be more complex
than anticipated, and the first generation of vaccines may not
provide the long-lasting, high-level protection that will be needed
to end the many negative consequences of the global SARS-CoV-2
pandemic. A number of leading SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates use
other viruses, such as adenoviruses tagged with just one
coronavirus protein, particularly the spike protein which is
required for the virus to enter cells. However, it is unlikely that
these vaccines will induce strong and lasting protection against
SARS-CoV-2. We believe that it is important to develop vaccines
that cover as many SARS-CoV-2 proteins as possible but without any
pathogenic potential", says Dr. Vladimir Cmiljanovic, Chairman and
CEO of Swiss Rockets.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Klimkait, Virologist at the University of
Basel and Project Leader of Preclinical Development at RocketVax,
explains: "As an innovative next-generation vaccine, RocketVax is
developing a complete but 'replication blocked' SARS-CoV-2 virus
that presents all essential protein components in the virus
particle to the human immune system." Novel methods are being
utilized in the production of the active ingredient. RocketVax, in
a first step, relies on ground-breaking DNA synthesis technology
from the ETH spin-off Gigabases Switzerland AG. The gene sequence
of the desired artificial viral genome, optimal for an immune
response, is designed using high computing power and advanced DNA
design algorithms. The designed genome lacks one essential virus
element needed for replication. This element is provided by a human
producer cell, yielding complete virus particles in the laboratory.
The "artificial virus" can be made in large quantities for use as a
vaccine. This technology allows the rapid production of various
genome sequences, enabling vaccine production with one or mixtures
of viral sequences. It also allows for incorporation of any
relevant SARS-CoV-2 mutations that may arise in the future.
Foundation of RocketVax AG and acquisition of the inventor
rights from the ETH spin-off Gigabases Switzerland AG
Swiss Rockets has acquired the exclusive rights to develop a
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the breakthrough DNA synthesis technology
from the ETH spin-off Gigabases Switzerland AG. The next generation
of SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccines will be developed together with
Gigabases and a consortium of experts from several leading Swiss
universities and institutes.
For this purpose, Swiss Rockets has founded RocketVax AG in
Basel and provides the necessary infrastructure with office and
laboratory space as an incubator in cooperation with the Canton of
Basel-City and the University of Basel. This provides RocketVax
with access to the necessary biosafety laboratory. Swiss Rockets
also acts as an accelerator by investing additional funds in the
development of RocketVax in the medium term and is responsible for
supporting RocketVax in national and international financing
rounds. Also, management expertise is provided by Swiss Rockets,
together with leading Swiss and international experts.
RocketVax works together with leading scientists
Prof. Marcel Tanner, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology,
Medical Parasitology and Public Health and former Director of the
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, will act as a chief
scientific advisor. He is a leading clinical epidemiologist and a
pioneer in R&D for vaccines and drugs against diseases of poverty
and neglected tropical diseases.
Prof. Claudia Daubenberger, Head of Clinical Immunology at the
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, will support the
clinical development. RocketVax will have access to an
international clinical trial network to enable innovative and rapid
clinical development in different human populations.
Prof. Thomas Klimkait, the virologist at the University of
Basel, optimizes the virus production process and leads preclinical
development.
Prof. Adrian Egli, Head of Molecular Verification and
Sequencing at the University Hospital Basel, will support the
preclinical and clinical development.
Dr. Matthias Christen, CEO of Gigabases Switzerland AG, a
biotech company responsible for manufacturing and delivering entire
DNA constructs essential for different vaccine candidates.
Prof. Beat Christen, Co-Founder of Gigabases Switzerland AG and
Professor at the ETH Zurich, advises the company on DNA sequences
design.
Prof. Bernd Giese from the University of Fribourg, one of the
World's leading chemists, will provide DNA chemistry expertise.
Prof. Christian Münz, Co-head of the Institute for Experimental
Immunology at the University of Zurich, provides expertise in new
in vivo SARS-CoV-2 infection models.
Team
Board of Directors:
Dr. Jeanette Wood - Chairman, Non-executive Board member
Dr. Vladimir Cmiljanovic - Vice Chairman, Executive Board member
Dr. Natasa Cmiljanovic - Executive Board member
Dr. Thomas Ladner - Non-executive Board member
Marco Illy - Non-executive Board member
Management Team:
Dr. Vladimir Cmiljanovic - Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Natasa Cmiljanovic - Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Mohammad Johri - Chief Business Officer
Dr. Josef Künzle - Chief Quality Officer
(continues)