Kindeva Drug Delivery and Emervax have partnered to co-develop a vaccine delivery solution for a range of viruses.
The partnership gives Emervax an exclusive licence to use Kindeva’s solid-coated microneedle array patch for its emxRNA platform.
Using circular RNA (circRNA) technology, an approach that involves the use of closed-loop RNA molecules in disease defence and gene therapy, Emervax’s emxRNA platform is focused on creating vaccines against infectious diseases, including yellow fever, Ebola, mpox, and select difficult-to-treat cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Emervax said that Kindeva's microneedle array patch will provide accurate and reliable intradermal delivery of its emxRNA vaccines, the typical dose range of which aligns with the payload capacity of microneedle technology and improves the stability profile of its platform’s vaccines.
The companies anticipate that this minimally invasive approach to vaccine administration will mitigate barriers to vaccination uptake due to its ease of use, potential for at-home dosing, and painless administration for individuals with trypanophobia.
Kindeva CEO Milton Boyer commented: “In harnessing the combination of Kindeva's microneedle array patch technology with Emervax's circular RNA platform, we are excited to work together to unlock breakthrough benefits for patients.
“In addition to vaccines, our platform has shown tremendous promise across small molecules and biologics targeting a wide range of indications demonstrating the potential for safer, less painful and more convenient intradermal delivery of life-saving and life-enhancing vaccines and therapies, which conventionally would be administered via an injection."
Kindeva and Emervax anticipate moving their joint offering into clinical trials by 2026.
Emervax co-founder and CEO Peter Weinstein said: “By combining Kindeva's microneedle patches with Emervax's emxRNA thermostable platform, this solution minimises the need for cold chain storage and simplifies vaccine administration compared to current standards of care.
“It also addresses critical challenges in transporting and delivering vaccines to populations in need, ensuring faster and more efficient distribution."
Kindeva Drug Delivery was formerly known as 3M Drug Delivery Systems and rebranded itself in 2020, following its acquisition by Altaris Capital Partners in a deal valued at $650m.
