BioDiem, VIVALIS team for viral vector research

Vaccine development company BioDiem and France-based biopharma VIVALIS have commenced the first stage of a collaboration aimed at potentially developing a new viral vector.

The companies have revealed they will jointly investigate the synergy between BioDiem's proprietary influenza virus LAIV and VIVALIS cell line EB66.

The initial collaboration will seek to determine whether LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Virus) strains grow satisfactorily in the EB66 cell line, and chart any effects the combination has on the virus' characteristics.

A success at this stage would help pave the way for the true aim of the collaboration – a project to create an LAIV viral vector using the cell line as a base platform.

An LAIV vector would be capable of delivering a customisable payload to the immune system, to act as a vaccine for a number of different non-influenza diseases, including potentially cancer and tuberculosis.

BioDiem CEO Julie Phillips said the creation of a new viral vector is one of the company's core goals.

“VIVALIS is an ideal vaccine development partner, with a strong commercial mindset, a history of successful partnerships and great technology in the internationally established EB66 cell line,” she said.

BioDiem yesterday revealed that it had just received license fees for its LAIV vaccine technology totalling $844,000, or nearly 10% of its market capitalisation.

The LAIV vaccine technology is currently used to develop a nasal spray vaccine for seasonal and pandemic influenza.

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) shares were trading unchanged at $0.083 by around 2:30pm on Wednesday.