#USA #Boston #CARB-X #Gonorrhea #AdJane

CARB-X Grants Funding to AdJane for Gonorrhea Vaccine

In a significant step towards combating gonorrhea, the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) has announced a grant of $2.6 million to AdJane, a Netherlands-based clinical-stage vaccine company. This funding is aimed at advancing the development of AdJane's innovative vaccine, derived from its native Outer Membrane Vesicle (nOMV) platform, which targets the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria responsible for this sexually transmitted infection.

Gonorrhea is a major public health concern, with more than 80 million new infections reported annually. The disease can lead to serious complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, and poses an increased risk of HIV transmission. One of the challenges in addressing gonorrhea is the lack of sustained natural immunity, leading to frequent reinfections and repeated antibiotic treatments, fuelling the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Richard Alm, Interim Head of R&D at CARB-X, emphasized the growing complexity of clinical management for gonorrhea, stating, "The rise of antimicrobial resistance and limited therapeutic options make addressing this infection increasingly difficult. AdJane's approach aims to tackle key challenges in producing protective immunity to decrease gonorrhea infection rates and slow down antimicrobial resistance spread."

AdJane's nOMV platform is built on successful Phase I clinical trials that demonstrated positive safety profiles in humans. By employing a heterologous approach, the company seeks to combine a broad antigenic base with the targeted expression of several highly conserved gonococcal antigens. This strategy aims to elicit a well-rounded and targeted immune response against N. gonorrhoeae.

Anita Gashi, the CEO of AdJane, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with CARB-X, stating, "We are thrilled to join CARB-X's portfolio and grateful for the support in our vision to combat antimicrobial resistance through our platform. This award recognizes the potential of our next-generation nOMV platform in addressing global health challenges like gonorrhea. Our heterologous approach allows for the creation of a single-component vaccine designed to provide broad yet targeted immune protection, facilitating streamlined development and manufacturing."

This latest funding represents an extension of a prior CARB-X award aimed at supporting the development of a gonorrhea vaccine. Since CARB-X's inception in 2016, it has seen significant progress in antibiotic development, helping to advance 123 R&D projects across 14 countries. Notably, 25 of these projects have progressed to clinical trials, with 14 still in development and three products already on the market. Moreover, numerous developers benefiting from CARB-X support have entered advanced partnerships that facilitate the continuation of clinical development.

All CARB-X funded projects are required by contract to develop a management and access plan for their products, ensuring responsible management and appropriate access in low- and middle-income countries. CARB-X's funding sources include federal financial backing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and various international foundations.

In conclusion, the funding provided to AdJane underscores a concerted effort to innovate in vaccine development targeting antibiotic-resistant infections. With ongoing challenges like gonorrhea, initiatives like these are crucial for enhancing public health worldwide and addressing antimicrobial resistance head-on.