Business
Blue Water Vaccines Announces Sponsored Research Agreement Amendment to Continue Funding Universal Influenza Vaccine Development at The University of Oxford
CINCINNATI, May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Water Vaccines Inc. (“BWV” or “Blue Water Vaccines” or “the Company”) a biopharmaceutical company developing
About this update from Onconetix, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"CINCINNATI, May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Water Vaccines Inc. (“BWV” or “Blue Water Vaccines” or “the Company”) a biopharmaceutical company developing transformational vaccines to address significant global health challenges, today announced the signing of an amendment to its existing Sponsored Research Agreement with The University of Oxford. Under this amendment, BWV will extend funding for research into its universal influenza vaccine candidate, BWV-101, for an additional 18 months. Under the original agreement signed in December 2019, BWV agreed to fund research and development of its universal influenza vaccine at The University of Oxford for a period of three years, ending on December 19, 2022. The signing of this amendment, as well as additional funding provided by BWV, will enable Oxford to continue research and optimization of the Company’s universal influenza vaccine candidate, BWV-101. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The University of Oxford,” said Joseph Hernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water Vaccines. “In addition to the original work on H1 epitopes of limited variability, the team at Oxford recently found epitopes of limited variability for H3 and influenza B. This work brings us one step closer to a truly universal influenza vaccine, and we look forward to reaching that milestone with our partners at Oxford.” According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 1 billion influenza infections each year, 3 – 5 million of which are considered severe, leading to between 290,000 – 650,000 related respiratory deaths worldwide. Current influenza vaccines have several shortcomings, including yearly reformulations 6 months prior to influenza season leading to yearly administration and typically provide protection to only 50% of the individuals that receive the vaccine. Additionally, the CDC estimates about $87.1 billion USD is lost through absenteeism and healthcare costs in the US and the WHO estimates around $4 billion US is spent on the flu vaccine each year. Both the clinical toll of this disease and the economic burden it poses warrants investigation and commitment to the development of a universal influenza vaccine. About The University of Oxford Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the sixth ...