MalarVx licenses HDT Bio’s LION technology for the development of a malaria vaccine

USA—MalarVx, Inc., a clinical-stage vaccine company, has entered into a license agreement with HDT Bio to use their innovative self-amplifying replicon RNA (repRNA) and lipid nanoparticle (LION™) technologies for malaria vaccine development.

HDT Bio, known for its advanced RNA vaccine technologies, has developed the LION nanoparticle delivery system, which is highly effective in preventing viral and bacterial infections.

This new partnership between MalarVx and HDT Bio builds on their long-standing collaboration to further advance malaria vaccine research.

The agreement will provide additional support to MalarVx, enabling the company to develop and commercialize vaccines using HDT Bio’s cutting-edge technologies.

Malaria continues to be a global health crisis, with the World Health Organization reporting 597,000 deaths and 263 million cases in 2023.

Despite global efforts and an annual expenditure of US$4 billion on malaria control, the number of cases and deaths has remained largely unchanged over the last decade.

As a result, the need for a safe, effective, and affordable malaria vaccine has never been more urgent.

In a statement, Steve Reed, Ph.D., CEO of HDT Bio, expressed his enthusiasm about contributing to developing malaria vaccines with MalarVx.

He highlighted the promising capabilities of the LION platform, which has shown the ability to generate strong, long-lasting immune responses while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

Curt Malloy, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations at HDT Bio, emphasized that this collaboration exemplifies their mission to advance global health technologies.

He further noted that their dedication to applying their technology to tackle critical global health challenges is unwavering, from fighting diseases like malaria to advancing cancer prevention and treatment.

MalarVx has already shown that LION-based vaccines can prevent infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections, which are responsible for malaria in humans and animals.

James Davie, CEO of MalarVx, added that the LION-based vaccines offer significant advantages, including increased potency, stability, and simplified manufacturing.

These attributes make them particularly suitable for use in resource-limited settings, where vaccines need to be easy to distribute and store.

Dr. Marion Avril, Ph.D., MalarVx Program Director, noted that this collaboration with HDT Bio is a crucial step towards developing solutions to eradicate malaria someday.

She emphasized that together, both companies are committed to innovating to save lives and improve health outcomes for millions worldwide. 

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