PDS Biotechnology Corporation announced preclinical data on its investigational Infectimune®-based flu vaccine at the IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Annual Meeting. Studies conducted by the NIAID showed Infectimune® elicited a stronger, more multifunctional T-cell response compared to existing vaccines, with an enhanced ability to target lung tissue in individuals with prior influenza infection. Further preclinical ferret studies demonstrated that Infectimune®-based universal flu vaccines neutralized and protected against a range of historical H3N2 influenza strains.
These findings are crucial for advancing influenza vaccine development, particularly in the pursuit of a universal flu vaccine. The ability of Infectimune® to generate a robust and targeted T-cell response, particularly in the lungs, could offer superior protection against diverse influenza strains. This is significant because current vaccines often struggle to provide broad and durable protection, necessitating annual reformulation and revaccination. The data suggests Infectimune® might contribute to longer-lasting immunity and reduce the impact of seasonal influenza outbreaks.
The preclinical data presented at the conference focused on the enhanced T-cell response generated by Infectimune®, and the protective efficacy of Infectimune®-based universal flu vaccines containing computationally optimized broadly reactive antigens (COBRAs) against a panel of H3N2 strains. While the research is still in preclinical stages, the results support the continued exploration of Infectimune® as a platform for developing next-generation influenza vaccines.
This research potentially positions PDS Biotech at the forefront of universal flu vaccine development. While the company’s primary focus remains on its immuno-oncology programs, particularly the VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 trial, the promising Infectimune® data opens doors for future partnerships or development pathways in the infectious disease space. The positive preclinical findings could attract further investment and collaboration, accelerating the development of a potentially game-changing influenza vaccine.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
