January 12, 2021 -- ImmunityBio has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for IosBio's OraPro vaccine platform technology that is currently being investigated in trials of ImmunityBio's second-generation human adenovirus 5 (hAd5) COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
OraPro is a patented oral delivery vaccine platform which enables the oral administration of thermally stable viral vector vaccines. The vectors are engineered to withstand temperatures of up to 50° C, allowing them to pass through the stomach without losing efficacy and providing long-term product stability at ambient temperatures. Oral administration of vaccines stimulates mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue to generate mucosal, systemic, and T-cell immune responses.
The hAd5 COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown promising results in preclinical studies and is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a phase I prime/boost clinical trial. So far, 20 participants have already been dosed with both low and high doses of the vaccine in a phase I trial with no serious adverse events.
Under the agreement, IsoBio has granted ImmunityBio exclusive rights to utilize the platform for ImmunityBio's COVID-19 vaccine. IsoBio will be eligible to receive royalties on net worldwide sales of the approved oral vaccine.