Imophoron Appoints Dr. Steve Chatfield as Chair of the Board and Secures Innovate UK Grant for Thermostable Intranasal RSV Vaccine Development
BRISTOL, UK – 24 September 2024 – Imophoron, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in thermostable nanoparticle vaccines through its ADDomer™ platform, today announced the appointment of Dr. Steve Chatfield as Chair of the Board.
Dr. Chatfield brings over 40 years of experience in life sciences, having held executive and board-level positions across the private and public sectors. His expertise spans the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of vaccines, including emergency preparedness for pandemics, emerging diseases, and bioterrorism threats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chatfield served as an advisor to the UK Vaccines Task Force and now provides strategic counsel to life science companies, academia, and government bodies. He currently serves on the boards of several UK based companies.
Dr. Chatfield succeeds Damian Marron, who has chaired Imophoron since its founding.
In addition, Imophoron announced it has been awarded an Innovate UK grant to advance the intranasal delivery of ADDomer-based vaccines targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Imophoron is leveraging AI and machine learning technologies to develop novel thermostable RSV vaccine candidates; the grant will support initial formulation development and feasibility testing of thermostable RSV vaccine candidates, with plans to progress to in vivo proof-of-concept trials.
Intranasal vaccines offer several potential advantages over traditional injections, including ease of administration, avoidance of needles, potential to offer superior protection for respiratory diseases[i], enhanced protection against disease transmission[ii], improved compliance[iii], and a broader immune response[iv]. Imophoron has previously demonstrated[v] the ADDomer platform’s ability to generate both local IgA and systemic IgG antibody responses following intranasal administration, underscoring its potential in combating respiratory diseases.
The intrinsic thermostability of Imophoron’s RSV vaccine candidates is a key differentiator in global distribution. The ADDomer platform has demonstrated the ability to maintain stability at 30°C for over three months, eliminating the need for cold-chain logistics and enabling broader distribution, particularly in regions with limited refrigeration infrastructure. Recent developments around the spread of mpox have highlighted the importance of thermostability for effective global vaccine distribution programmes, reflecting a newly published scientific viewpoint[vi] highlighting the direct link between vaccine temperature sensitivities and successful distribution of vaccines globally.
Dr. Steve Chatfield commented: "The pandemic highlighted the urgent need for vaccines that can be easily distributed without complex cold chains and delivered without needles. It was also evident from the roll out of COVID vaccines that the development of vaccines that can reduce or prevent transmission, by stimulating immunity in the respiratory tract, should be prioritised for future pandemic preparedness. I’m impressed by the thermostability and potential for intranasal delivery of Imophoron’s ADDomer platform, and I look forward to working with the team to bring these vaccines into clinical trials."
Richard Bungay, Chief Executive of Imophoron, added: “We are excited to welcome Steve to the Board. His vast experience in vaccine development and his extensive network will be invaluable as we build a portfolio of next-generation ADDomer-based vaccines. We also extend our thanks to Damian Marron for his leadership during Imophoron's formative years."
“We are equally thrilled with the Innovate UK grant to support the development of our intranasal RSV vaccine. The highly competitive grant process highlights the recognition of our innovative ADDomer platform and its potential to address critical global health challenges.”
For further information, please visit www.Imophoron.com or contact:
Richard Bungay, Chief Executive Officer
contact@Imophoron.com
About Imophoron
Founded in 2017, Imophoron specializes in thermostable nanoparticle vaccine development through its proprietary ADDomer platform. The ADDomer technology offers a disruptive approach to combating infectious diseases and has potential applications in oncology. The platform allows for rapid insertion of epitopes into a single thermotolerant particle, enabling the development of thermostable, multivalent vaccines to address high unmet medical needs.
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[i] Yan, F., Poli, F., & Zanoni, M. (2020). "Intranasal Vaccination for Respiratory Pathogens: Mucosal Immune Responses and Beyond." Vaccines, 8(4), 668.
[ii] Li, L., Honda-Okubo, Y., Baldwin, S., et al. Nasal Delivery of Vaccines for the Prevention of COVID-19. Nature Reviews Immunology, 21(12), 2021, 783-784
[iii] Chavda, V. P., Vora, L. K., Pandya, A., & Patravale, V. B. (2020). Intranasal vaccine delivery: New strategies and techniques. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 17(9), 889-907
[iv] Lu, X., Bungay, L. E., Desheva, J. A., et al. (2011). Cross-Protective Immunity Induced by Intranasal Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 204(10), 1593-1601
[v] Buzas, D., Bunzel, A., Staufer, O. et al. (2023). In vitro generated antibodies guide thermostable ADDomer nanoparticle design for nasal vaccination and passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2. Antibody Therapeutics, 6(4), 277-297
[vi] Hare, J., Hesselink, R., Bongers, A. et al. (2024). Improving vaccine equity by increasing vaccine thermostability. Science Translational Medicine, 16, eadm7471.
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