Verification grant safeguards study of vaccines against genital herpes
Simplexia is one of the projects and companies to receive the grant. Simplexia originated at the Sahlgrenska Academy where a research group have identified a protein that can be used as a vaccine against genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2, HSV-2). Thanks to the grant, Simplexia will now be able to conduct preclinical activities aimed at further verifying the vaccine in an in vivo model and also evaluate various immunity-enhancing molecules (adjuvants).

Genital herpes is the most widespread sexually transmitted disease in the world. About 20-30% of the population is estimated to be infected and the market in the US alone is calculated to be worth about 2.8 billion kronor a year. In its research, Simplexia has a major additional competitive edge since its vaccine is expected to protect people who have already previously been infected with the virus that causes oral herpes.

“This verification grant means we will now be able to take yet another step in the preclinical development phase and undertake value-enhancing studies that can form the basis for product planning," says Josefin Liljeqvist, project manager at Simplexia.
 
Sights set on supporting commercialisation
“By supporting ideas for products and services through our strong research environments, GöteborgBIO aids the process of commercialising research results," explains Bengt Belfrage, process manager at GöteborgBIO. “For most of these projects, the grant is absolutely vital for being able to carry out such fundamental activities as a preliminary patient study or a clinical test of the concept, which in turn are needed to apply for further external funding," emphasises Bengt Belfrage. Without these grants, some of the projects might never reach commercialisation.
 
Considerable cooperative benefit
Gunilla Bökmark, President of Sahlgrenska Science Park, highlights the joint benefits and says that cooperation helps all concerned. “Since we offer grants, advice, purpose-built premises such as offices and laboratories and much else, we also offer a consolidated foundation for these research projects. The joint benefit for all concerned is thus immense," concludes Gunilla Bökmark.

Other companies and projects that have received the verification grant:
Arterion AB is a Göteborg-based company that develops artificial blood vessels made from bacterial cellulose. These artificial blood vessels may ultimately be able to replace narrow blood vessels, which cannot be replaced using today´s technology. The verification grant makes it possible for Arterion to work in a joint project to develop its unique production process. The aim is increased scope for managing product properties and quality-assurance of the product through high reproducibility.
 
“The grant will help us integrate the improvements of the various process steps more quickly. This will lead to increased control and earlier opportunities for launching more market-related cooperation. Above all, we are very happy that our work gives us access to the expertise of Associate Professor Carl Johan Franzén of Industrial Biotechnology at Chalmers," says Kristoffer Drotz, production manager at Arterion AB.

Anna-Carin Olin leads a joint project for the diagnosis of respiratory ailments. The project, Diagnos 10 andetag (Diagnosis 10 Breaths), is a unique non-invasive method for the collection and analysis of particles in the patient´s expelled air for the purpose of diagnosis of respiratory ailments. The most immediate goal of the project is to demonstrate the method´s commercial potential and clinical benefit in specific applications.

“Today´s methods are generally invasive, involving considerable unpleasantness for the patient. They are also resource-intensive and may be risky. In addition to improvements in these areas, our method permits a unique degree of precision in the detection of biomarkers in the air exhaled by patients," says Anna-Carin Olin.

MIVAC Development AB is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on research, development and commercialisation of innovative treatments for autoimmune ailments, allergy therapies, treatments for Alzheimer´s disease and vaccines. Within a project entitled “Immunotherapy and the diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease" the company has developed a specific antibody against toxic components that cause Alzheimer´s disease. The verification grant will be used to verify the antibody´s active mechanism and to show proof of concept through a variety of studies. The end goal is to develop this antibody into both a drug and a diagnostic tool.
 
“The verification grant will truly help us drive the project under a particularly value-enhancing commercial development phase and will also benefit the project´s scope for attracting continued financing, thus securing its future commercial development," says Anna Sjöblom-Hallén, project manager at MIVAC Development AB. 

Contact GöteborgBIO:
Bengt Belfrage, Process Manager, GöteborgBIO, phone +46 705-16 32 45
bengt@belfrage.se
Gunilla Ekholtz, Head of Public Relations, GöteborgBIO, phone +46 766-452919
gunilla.ekholtz@goteborgbio.se
 
GöteborgBIO is a joint platform for biomedical development. The principals are AstraZeneca, Business Region Göteborg AB, Chalmers, the University of Gothenburg/Sahlgrenska Academy, Innovationsbron AB, Mölnlycke Health Care AB, Nobel Biocare AB, VINNOVA and Region Västra Götaland.
www.goteborgbio.se

Contact Sahlgrenska Science Park:
Gunilla Bökmark, President, Sahlgrenska Science Park, phone +46 31-741 17 07
gunilla.bokmark@sahlgrenskasciencepark.se

Sahlgrenska Science Park helps new companies in the field of life science to start up their operations under the best possible conditions. We offer expert knowledge and long experience with solid commercial credentials, as well as a large network in the business community and the field of life science.
www.sahlgrenskasciencepark.se