MADISON, WI, USA I July 30, 2013 I Arecor Ltd of Cambridge, England received the funding to pursue a research project applying Arecor’s innovative Arestat™ formulation technology to a promising flu vaccine, REDEE FLU™, developed by FluGen, Inc., of Madison, WI. The UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, has awarded Arecor a Proof of Concept award through its Smart programme, to engage in research and development in the strategically important area of developing a stable formulation for REDEE FLU™.

Arecor’s CEO, Thomas Reese Saylor, explains “Arecor has demonstrated its strength in enabling advanced formulations of live and subunit vaccines through the application of our innovative technology platform, enabling market differentiation for major vaccine companies in addition to collaborations with PATH on development of thermostable vaccines for the developing world. FluGen’s technology represents a major innovation toward the development of a universal flu vaccine and Arecor welcomes the opportunity to work with FluGen in applying its technologies to REDEE FLUTM, enabling a step change in storage and distribution, and ease of administration via intranasal delivery.” Arecor has a variety of innovative formulation platform tools, collectively referred to as ArestatTM technology.

FluGen’s CEO, Paul Radspinner, states, “Projects with outstanding companies like Arecor are a critical part of our strategic plan. We’re trying to save lives by making a flu vaccine that works for everyone and to prevent flu pandemics of the future. This is another step toward creating an influenza vaccine that really works, particularly in the most vulnerable population that includes our mothers, fathers and grandparents.” Recently the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that influenza vaccine efficacy rates were as low as 9% in people 65 and older.

FluGen’s universal influenza vaccine candidate REDEE FLU™ is like no other; it tricks the body into believing it is infected but doesn’t bring on the symptoms of the disease.

A critical component to the success of REDEE FLU™ is how it is formulated for storage and shipment. This is where the innovative UK formulation experts Arecor join the team.

FluGen Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Pamuk Bilsel and company co-founder Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, recently elected to the US National Academy of Sciences, are recognized as leaders in virology research and recognize the need for strong formulation expertise. “Arecor brings deep expertise in vaccine stabilization, storage and distribution,” Dr. Bilsel states. “We consider their assistance invaluable to our goal of providing the most effective influenza vaccine. To us, efficacy means a long REDEE FLU™ shelf life and stability under temporary high temperatures so that health care organizations and governments have plenty of inventory to prevent dangerous flu outbreaks.”

The Arecor/FluGen international collaboration will begin in July and continue into 2014.

SOURCE: FluGen