VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2021 / Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (EYAM) announced today the commencement of preclinical studies to test the efficacy of unique COVID-19 vaccine candidates that target SARS-CoV-2 variants. The preclinical testing begins to address the urgent societal need to accelerate containment of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
In November 2020, EYAM entered into a licensing agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada to develop several proprietary COVID-19 vaccine candidates in a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine platform. EYAM anticipates rapid advancement of preclinical trials for these COVID-19 vaccine candidates. EYAM's platform and strategy, driven through a collaborative research agreement with the University of British Columbia, differentiates the potential vaccine product from other vaccines that have already come to market.
Dr. Reno Pontarollo, President & COO of EYAM stated, "Our goal is to end the global COVID-19 pandemic by creating unique sterilizing vaccines that halt infection and transmission of the virus. However, the creation of a sterilizing vaccine for COVID-19 that is safe and effective in a global population of over 7 billion people, is a monumental task. The self-amplifying mRNA vaccine technologies designed by UBC Professor and EYAM CSO, Dr. Wilfred Jefferies have the potential to reduce the effective quantities of COVID-19 vaccine per dose and are made in the absence of serum or tissues to eliminate the toxicity inherent in other vaccine platforms. Overall, these unique vaccines address several current obstacles in COVID-19 vaccine development".
Ryan M. Thomas, CEO of EYAM, said, "Responding to the global need for COVID-19 vaccines to save lives is a company priority. New vaccines that are able to be effective for multiple variants are needed to address the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and this is the focus of our current preclinical work. Overall, the commencement of preclinical studies represents a key milestone in our research program that will establish EYAM as a world-wide leader in the creation and commercial development of vaccines."
About Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics: Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics is a private Canadian company focused on the research and development of vaccines that are safe, efficacious and low dose. Eyam, was named to honour the village in Derbyshire that, in 1665-1666, chose to stay and brave near certain death rather than travelling and risk transmitting the plague to their neighbouring towns. In the end, 75% of Eyam's residents did indeed die, but their surrounding neighbours were saved due to Eyam's selfless quarantine.
Contact Information:
Ryan M. Thomas
Phone: (720) 486-9359
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE: Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics