Tampere, Finland – Vactech Oy (Vactech), a biotechnology company focused on development of vaccines for Type 1 Diabetes and other immune mediated diseases, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted an US Patent 10,258,685 related to a multivalent CBV vaccine for preventing or treating Type 1 Diabetes.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to anti-viral compositions e.g. vaccines and methods useful in preventing or treating Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). More particularly the invention relates to a vaccine comprising enteroviruses, components thereof and/or antibodies thereto.

The connection between enteroviruses and Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has been documented in a multitude of studies. Enteroviruses have been detected in the pancreas, blood and intestinal mucosa of patients with Type 1 Diabetes more frequently than in control subjects and prospective studies have supported their role in the initiation of the beta-cell damaging process associated with Type 1 Diabetes.

The present invention is based on the finding that certain enterovirus subtypes may induce Type 1 Diabetes. The patent describes an optimal composition of a vaccine that can be used to prevent these infections and reduce the risk of Type 1 diabetes. 

"The granted US patent is a major and most important key element when implementing our strategy to build a family of products for preventing, treating and diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes. Combined with our equivalent European Multi-CVB patents it essentially strengthens our position when negotiating finance and collaboration for manufacturing and clinical trials of the vaccine together with our strategic partner Provention Bio, Inc. I’m especially delighted with the broad coverage of the patent allowing prevention and/or treatment of T1D with alternative technologies and vaccine compositions. The basic cornerstones of our T1D patent portfolio are now in place”, said Raimo Harju, CEO of Vactech.

About Vactech

Vactech develops and licenses vaccines and novel technologies for vaccines and diagnostics with a pipeline of early stage product candidates focused on Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Asthma & Allergy and diagnostics.

Vactech’s flagship project is a patented enterovirus based preventive Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) vaccine, similar to the widely used enterovirus vaccine against polio. The vaccine is a traditional inactivated vaccine and it has been proved to be safe and effective in mice. In addition, Vactech’s IMAVAC™ product line uses Virus Like Particle (VLP) technology which is essential for other vaccines, immunomodulators and diagnostic applications.

Vactech is a privately owned company. We have a track record of collaboration with both industrial and academic partners. Vactech has engaged in strategic partnership with Provention Bio Inc. especially in the field of preventive Type 1 Diabetes vaccine and related applications.

For more information contact:

Please see the company's website at www.vactech.fi for additional information or contact:

Raimo Harju, CEO

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