SumayaVac
SumayaVac
is a novel malaria vaccine based on the full-length MSP-1 antigen
Under development by Sumaya Biotech GmbH & Co KG (Sumaya), Heidelberg, Germany
SumayaVac
Sumaya Biotech GmbH & Co KG (Sumaya) was founded as a spin-out from the University of Heidelberg by Prof. Dr. Hermann Bujard as its scientific founder and Dr. Ernst Böhnlein the current Managing Director on 23rd March 2015. The focus of the clinical stage biotech company is on treatments against malaria.
Sumaya’s goal is the development of vaccines against both, P. falciparum and P. vivax infections, with an initial focus on P. falciparum. These vaccines (SumayaVac) are based on the full-length “MSP-1 antigen” and target two crucial stages of the parasite’s infectious cycle: the liver and the blood stage. Targeting both stages is a key competitive differentiator against other vaccine approaches. To achieve an activity against liver and blood stages, the Sumaya vaccination approach consists of two components: (i) a vector delivery system, in this case a human Adeno6 viral vector expressing full length MSP-1, to elicit a cellular immune response against liver stages and (ii) a proteinaceous component consisting of full length MSP1 to elicit a humoral immune response against merozoites. The two components will be administered in a prime/boost strategy (priming with the viral delivery system and boosting with the protein). Sumaya plans to evaluate SumayaVac in challenge studies (CHMI) to assess the contribution of each component to immunity and efficacy.
The EUMF funding supports Sumaya’s efforts to finance Phase 1b/2a studies for their malaria vaccine SumayaVac.