AlphaVax

About AlphaVax

AlphaVax, Inc. operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, established in 1997. The firm was co-founded by Dr. Jonathan Smith, a virologist with over 35 years of experience in infectious disease research and vaccine development, and Dr. Robert E. Johnston, a professor of microbiology and immunology. Dr. Smith previously served as the Chief of the Department of Virology at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), and his extensive background in RNA-replicon vaccines directly shaped the company's technological foundation. Dr. Johnston's academic and research career, with a focus on virology and alphaviruses, provided the scientific bedrock for AlphaVax's platform.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary alphavaccine technology, a self-replicating RNA (srRNA) particle replicon vector platform derived from an attenuated strain of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) virus. This platform works by genetically engineering the virus, substituting a gene from a pathogen or cancer cell for a part of the original viral genome. The resulting virus-like replicon particles (VRPs) express the target antigen at high levels within the body, stimulating a robust and balanced immune response involving both antibodies and T-cells. A key feature of this system is its single-cycle nature, meaning the particles cannot produce more virus, which contributes to a strong safety profile.

AlphaVax's business model centers on developing vaccine candidates and then out-licensing the technology for specific diseases to commercial partners. The company has engaged in multiple collaborations, including partnerships with Novartis for a Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine, Duke University for cancer vaccine grants, and Wyeth for access to its vector technologies. Furthermore, AlphaVax has secured licenses with U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for the development of vaccines against biodefense targets like Marburg and Ebola viruses. The company's pipeline has included candidates for pandemic influenza, CMV, HIV, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Clinical trials have been conducted for several of these candidates, including a Phase 1 trial for an influenza vaccine and a Phase 1/2 study for a colorectal cancer vaccine, confirming the technology's safety and immunogenicity in humans. In December 2008, AlphaVax was acquired by Novartis and now operates as a subsidiary.