IU Receives $1.2M to Develop Vaccine
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Indiana University has received a $1.2 million grant from venture capital firm GIVAX Inc. to further develop a new technology for a combination oral rotavirus-norovirus vaccine. The technology, which was developed by IU biology professor John Patton and graduate student Asha Philip, is designed to alter the current rotavirus vaccine for infants to also protect against norovirus.
GIVAX is a biotech startup founded by Patton through seed funding from Boston-based investment firm RA Capital.
According to Patton, a vaccine does not currently exist that can prevent norovirus infection. The highly-contagious virus can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea in young children, and while most adults recover from viral diarrhea, Patton says such illness in young children can lead to hospitalization and life-threatening dehydration.
IU says the technology relies on the current rotavirus vaccine, using it as a platform to drive the production of norovirus proteins.
“We like to think of it as a vaccine for the world,” Patton said. “The children that are the most at risk of dying from these viral infections are in developing countries. We’re modifying a vaccine that is already widely used, giving it greater potential. We think this has strong advantages over other potential options, where you have to use needles and have trained personnel deliver it.”
Patton says nearly 100,000 childhood deaths occur around the world each year because of norovirus infection.
“The rotavirus vaccine is easily produced and can be administered by those with minimal medical training,” Patton said. “The rotavirus vaccine has been very effective in reducing viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children. We would like to take this simple vaccine and turn it into something that is more powerful and has the potential to prevent childhood infectious diseases beyond rotavirus gastroenteritis.”
Patton hopes to eventually develop other combination vaccines for babies and adults.