Blue Water Vaccines Announces Expanded License Agreement with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for Novel Bacterial Vaccine Platform
12 May 2022 - 3:00AM
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. (“BWV” or “Blue Water Vaccines” or “the
Company”), a biopharmaceutical company developing transformational
vaccines, today announced an expanded license agreement has been
signed with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (“St. Jude”).
Through research funded by Blue Water Vaccines, St. Jude designed
genetic constructs to express bacterial proteins on the surface of
Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Blue Water Vaccines originally licensed patent rights from St.
Jude in order to develop a live attenuated bacterial vaccine
(candidate BWV-201) for acute otitis media (AOM) caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in the middle ear cavity.
Researchers at St. Jude have expanded on this research and
identified a potential platform for vaccine creation by presenting
additional antigens on the surface of S. pneumoniae, potentially
allowing for protection against multiple infectious diseases.
Preliminary data for this platform shows protection against S.
pneumoniae and additional expressed antigens, including
non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), which represents
another major cause of AOM.
“This preliminary data is promising for research and development
of a novel bacterial vaccine platform,” said Jason Rosch, Ph.D. and
principal investigator who leads a lab at St. Jude investigating
fundamental questions surrounding respiratory infections in
children.
“Through this expanded license agreement, we look forward to
exploring the possibility of developing this preliminary research
into a new vaccine platform and addressing public health unmet
needs through efficacious vaccines,” said Joseph Hernandez,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water Vaccines.
Subsequent publications and additional data surrounding this
platform are forthcoming and will be provided by the Company.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports over 5 million cases
of AOM in the United States each year, resulting in approximately
30 million medical care visits and over 10 million antibiotic
prescriptions. AOM is the most common condition treated with
antibiotics in the United States and increasing antibiotic
resistance among the organisms responsible for AOM is of great
public health concern. In addition to antibiotic resistance, an
estimated $4.3 billion USD is spent on AOM treatment each year in
the United States alone, indicating a severe unmet need for vaccine
intervention.
About Blue Water Vaccines
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused
on developing transformational vaccines to address significant
health challenges globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, the
company holds the rights to proprietary technology developed at the
University of Oxford, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
(CCHMC), and St. Jude Children's Hospital. The company is
developing a universal flu vaccine that will provide protection
from all virulent strains in addition to licensing a novel
norovirus (NoV) S&P nanoparticle versatile virus-like particle
(VLP) vaccine platform from CCHMC to develop vaccines for multiple
infectious diseases, including norovirus/rotavirus and malaria,
among others. Additionally, Blue Water Vaccines is developing a
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) vaccine candidate, designed
to specifically prevent the highly infectious middle ear
infections, known as Acute Otitis Media (AOM), in children. For
more information, visit www.bluewatervaccines.com.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way
the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other
life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer
Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to
children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped
push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80%
since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St.
Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child
saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide
can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. To learn
more, visit stjude.org or
follow St. Jude on social media
at @stjuderesearch.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of
forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,”
“estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These
forward-looking statements are based on BWV’s current expectations
and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of
factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from
those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors
include, but are not limited to, risks related to the development
of BWV’s vaccine candidates, including, but not limited to BWV-301;
the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance
with FDA regulations; delays and uncertainties caused by the global
COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the timing and progress of
clinical development of our product candidates; our need for
additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and
litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor
reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and
dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with
any vaccine under development, there are significant risks in the
development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new
products. BWV does not undertake an obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk
factors set forth in BWV’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
period ended December 31, 2021 and other reports filed with the SEC
on or after the date thereof. All of BWV’s forward-looking
statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and
other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein
speaks only as of the date thereof.
Contact Information:Media Relations513-620-4101Email:
media@bluewatervaccines.com
St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMichael SheffieldDesk:
(901) 595-0221Cell: (901)
275-9065michael.sheffield@stjude.orgmedia@stjude.org
Blue Water Biotech (NASDAQ:BWV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2024 to Aug 2024
Blue Water Biotech (NASDAQ:BWV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2023 to Aug 2024