Mynvax raises $4.2M to develop ‘thermostable’ Covid-vaccine

Monika Raman, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore

By introducing new mutants, SARS-CoV-2 brings a new global threat with every new day. This current pandemic situation is a race between implementing vaccinations and controlling newly emerging infectious variants of coronavirus. 

To fight this situation, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has successfully developed a Covid-19 vaccine that is effective against all current SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, as per animal testing results. What is more interesting is that the vaccine is effective in high-temperature environments. 

Heat tolerant Covid-19 vaccine from IISc Bengaluru

According to the study, which also includes researchers from CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Australia), a significant immunological response was elicited in mice, thanks to the vaccine formulation developed by IISc-incubated biotech startup Mynvax. This research got published in the ACS Infectious Diseases journal on 15th July.

Most of the currently available Covid-19 vaccines need refrigeration to stay effective. For instance, the Pfizer-BioNTech jab (-70°C) needs ultra-cold storage, while the Covishield vaccine, stored around 2-8°C.

Rob Grenfell, the director of CSIRO, said, “For isolated or resource-limited places with hot climates, like Indo-Pacific region, which also lack reliable cold storage supply chains, a thermostable or warm vaccine is critical”.

The IISc-Mynvax vaccine has fulfilled this demand too. This vaccine has also proven to be stable at 37°C for a month and at 100°C for about 90 minutes.

Efficacy of IISc-Mynvax vaccine against variants of concern

In the IISc-Mynvax vaccine, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein is employed, permitting the virus to attach to the host cell and infect it. It varies from other vaccines because it uses only a portion of the RBD, a 200-amino-acid string, instead of the whole spike protein of the virus. 

A group of researchers tested the efficacy of vaccinated mice sera or blood samples against key coronavirus variants, including the Delta variant. Vasan, CSIRO-Covid-19 project leader, reported that the sera from Mynvax-vaccinated mice show a response to all live virus variants. 

Vasan with other experts from the University of York-UK, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology in Chandigarh, and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute in Faridabad stated: “Our data shows that Mynvax vaccine tested, cause antibodies capable of consistent and effective neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.”

Mynvax raises $4.2M

Mynvax is a vaccine technology startup. It was founded in 2017 by Dr Raghavan Varadarajan who is a professor at the IISc, Bangalore, and Dr Nadig who is an alumnus of the IISc. The company aims to advance innovative and broadly protective vaccine technologies.

Mynvax has announced on 19th July in its Series A round of financing led by Accel that it has signed agreements to raise $4.2 million (₹31 crores)- to escort a thermotolerant Covid-19 vaccine to the market.

The company develops novel recombinant vaccines for COVID-19 and human influenza and may use the proceeds to further their clinical development.

A change in the vaccination drive

“Thanks to the support of BIRAC, Government of India, early-stage investors, IISc, it had been ready to demonstrate vaccines ability to develop novel vaccine candidates which are rigorously tested for unique attributes like heat tolerance, to extend access to the vaccine across the country,” said Dr Gautham Nadig.

He added that Mynvax would partner with other large vaccine manufacturers to speed up the establishment of much-needed vaccines.

Mahendran Balachandran, the partner, Accel, said, “Accel is happy to lead the investment in Mynvax. We strongly believe that their platform has the potential to form an enormously positive change in the Global vaccine landscape for major respiratory illnesses.”

IISc-Mynvax vaccine, which shows a beneficial impact against variants of concern, has boosted the fight against Covid-19. The assessment made by CSIRO of the various Mynvax formulations will aid in the best candidate selection for human clinical trials in India that might occur later this year. 

Also read: Anhidrosis- A major factor that may lead to heatstroke!

Source: 

• Majumder, B. G. (n.d.). All you need to know about heat tolerant covid-19 vaccine from bengaluru’s iisc. Swarajyamag. Retrieved July 20, 2021, from https://swarajyamag.com/science/all-you-need-to-know-about-heat-tolerant-covid-19-vaccine-from-bengalurus-iisc
• IISc-incubated Mynvax to get funding to bring “warm” Covid vaccine to market. (2021, July 19). The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/iisc-incubated-mynvax-to-get-funding-to-bring-warm-covid-vaccine-to-market/article35408618.ece
• IISc-incubated vaccine innovation startup Mynvax raises $4.2 million—Microbioz India. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2021, from https://microbiozindia.com/iisc-incubated-vaccine-innovation-startup-mynvax-raises-4-2-million/

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About the author: Monika Raman is an undergraduate student pursuing her final year B. Tech in Biotechnology. She is an enthusiastic Biotech student aspiring for an opportunity to develop skills and grow professionally in the research field. Extremely motivated and possess strong interpersonal skills.