In this interview, we speak with Peter Weinstein, co-founder of Emervax. The discussion delves into Emervax’s innovative circular RNA technology, its advantages over traditional mRNA, strategic partnerships, and the company’s commitment to global vaccine access.
Moe: How does Emervax’s emxRNATM platform improve vaccine stability and efficacy over mRNA?
Our circular RNA platform, which we have named emxRNATM,offers greater stability than traditional mRNA, which is prone to degradation due to its linear structure. This degradation necessitates using end caps in mRNA vaccines to protect them from nucleases. In contrast, circular RNA does not have these vulnerable ends, making it more robust. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines required storage at extremely low temperatures (-50 to -70 degrees Celsius), which posed significant logistical challenges. However, Emervax’s emxRNATM platform can be stored at room temperature, simplifying distribution and storage. Our platform has developed unique sequences that enhance circularization, resulting in about 50% of the RNA becoming circularized, which is twice the normal rate. This increased stability and protein production capability make our platform a promising alternative to traditional mRNA vaccines.
Moe: How does the partnership with Kindevaimprove vaccine administration and compliance?
The partnership with KindevaDrug Delivery introduces microneedle array patches, revolutionizing vaccine administration by making it more convenient and less invasive. Traditional vaccines require intramuscular injections, necessitating visits to clinics or pharmacies. With the microneedle patches, patients can self-administer the vaccine at home by simply applying the patch for five minutes. This ease of use is expected to improve patient compliance significantly, as it eliminates the need for multiple clinic visits. Additionally, the patches are easy to dispose of, reducing the risk associated with sharps disposal. This innovation aligns with CEPI’s goal of making vaccines accessible in remote and underserved areas, as the patches can be easily transported and applied without the need for specialized medical personnel.
Moe: How do you ensure equitable access to vaccines in low-income countries?
Emervax is committed to ensuring equitable vaccine access by focusing on affordability and ease of distribution. We are actively working on tech transfers to manufacturers in countries like Egypt and South Africa to produce vaccines locally at a reasonable cost. This approach reduces production costs and facilitates distribution in low-income regions. Our collaboration with CEPI supports this mission, as they fund initiatives to develop vaccines that can be distributed in areas with limited access to healthcare infrastructure. By leveraging partnerships and focusing on cost-effective production, we aim to make our vaccines accessible to all, regardless of geographic or economic barriers.
Moe: What challenges do you anticipate in scaling up circular RNA vaccine production?
Scaling up production involves transitioning from GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing, which requires significant resources and expertise. We are currently discussing with four major bio manufacturers in the United States to facilitate this transition. While tech transfer can present challenges, particularly when moving production to countries with different regulatory standards, our experience and strategic partnerships should help mitigate these issues. Funding is always a concern, but we actively pursue non-dilutive funding to support our efforts and are currently initiating a Bridge Round and A concomitant Series A Round. We believe our platform will scale effectively for infectious disease vaccines based on our current data, which shows promising results in animal studies and we expect the same efficiency of production with our cancer and autoimmune emxRNATM vaccines.
Moe: How does your collaboration with CEPI align with global vaccine development efforts?
CEPI’s mission is to develop platforms that enable rapid vaccine production during pandemics. Our emxRNATM circular RNA platform is designed to be highly adaptable, allowing for quick integration of new antigens. This capability is crucial for responding to potential pandemics like MERS, which has a high mortality rate. By having a pre-approved platform, we can expedite the development and deployment of vaccines in response to emerging threats. This aligns with CEPI’s goal of ensuring global preparedness for future pandemics by having scalable and adaptable vaccine platforms ready for rapid deployment.
Moe: What potential applications do you see for circular RNA beyond infectious diseases?
Beyond infectious diseases, our emxRNATM technology is promising for applications in oncology and autoimmune disorders. We are currently developing vaccines for blood cancers and exploring autoimmune applications. Our platform can potentially replace CAR T-cell therapies, offering a more cost-effective solution. While bacterial and parasitic diseases present more complex challenges, we believe our technology can address these with further development. By integrating AI for antigen screening, we aim to expand the applicability of our platform to a broader range of diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes across multiple therapeutic areas.
Moe Alsumidaie is Chief Editor of The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Moe holds decades of experience in the clinical trials industry. Moe also serves as Head of Research at CliniBiz and Chief Data Scientist at Annex Clinical Corporation.