Pfenex has received a subcontract from Leidos Holdings (LDOS) to support the development of an anthrax vaccine containing its recombinant protective antigen (rPA) and a novel, immune-enhancing adjuvant.
The initial contract was awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Leidos in order to improve the efficacy of both anthrax and West Nile virus vaccines by formulating them with a novel adjuvant that stimulates immune responses.
As part of the subcontract with Leidos, Pfenex will provide its rPA, which will be assessed in several formulations with a selected adjuvant to optimize the breadth and longevity of immune responses generated against anthrax.
The recent contract marks the third government-funded contract awarded to Pfenex for the development of a next generation anthrax vaccine based on rPA produced in its platform technology, Pfenex Expression Technology.
Pfenex chief executive officer Bertrand Liang said the company is expanding its pipeline of rPA-based vaccine candidates in an effort to develop an optimal anthrax vaccine.
"Pfenex Expression Technology has once again demonstrated its ability to efficiently produce high-value antigens and advance the development of next generation biodefense vaccines," Liang said.