Frontier IP takes a fifth of new vaccine development firm

Intellectual property commercialisation specialist Frontier IP announced on Tuesday that it has received a 21% equity stake in the Vaccine Group, a spinout company from the University of Plymouth.

The AIM-traded firm asserted that governments, pharmaceutical companies and supranational bodies were showing “increasing concern” about emerging infectious diseases.

It said the Vaccine Group would exploit technology developed by Dr Michael Jarvis, associate professor in virology and immunology at the University of Plymouth, who reportedly specialises in the creative design of herpesvirus-based vaccines for the control of disease.

“We are delighted to support development of the Vaccine Group,” said Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb.

“Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat to economies and to the global population.

“A rapid response vaccine platform will be a valuable addition to current management strategies and a critical resource when new diseases emerge.”

Frontier IP said the Vaccine Group would aim to commercialise novel vaccine platforms for the development of vaccines for use in infection control - such as bovine tuberculosis - and for a rapid response to pathogens which unpredictably cross the species barrier and pose a significant threat to human health.

Target pathogens reportedly included avian influenza A, Ebola and Marburg viruses, MERS and SARS coronaviruses and Rift Valley fever virus.

Dr Jarvis' work previously received funding from a number of sources, including UK Innovate, National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council, the Frontier IP board reported.

Initial work in the Vaccine Group would focus on herpesvirus-based platforms suitable for use in animals, to protect human health by targeting the animal species from which disease is transmitted to humans, for vaccination - termed zoonoses barrier vaccines, the board added.

Future developments would include vaccines for use in humans.

Frontier IP's role would be to provide commercialisation services, industry expertise and “strong links” to the pharmaceutical industry.

Paul Mantle, a portfolio executive at Frontier IP, is also a director of the Vaccine Group with the Frontier board saying he would bring “wide industrial experience” of commercialising new technology.

“My laboratory has nearly 20 years [of] experience in the development of vaccines based on herpesvirus-based technology,” Dr Michael Jarvis commented.

“Science is a collaborative endeavour, and the Vaccine Group provides a new vehicle by which we can interact with fellow scientists, industry and investors to prevent emergence of infectious diseases relevant to global human health and agriculture.”