1. Vaccines against parasites

In cooperation with an internationally renowned Argentinian research group led by Prof. Dr. Hugo Luján (the “inventor”), VacciMed-Oral GmbH patented a new technology at the European Patent Office in December 2023, which forms the basis for the development of vaccines against parasites (EPO title of the patent: Vaccines against protozoan parasites). Parasites against which there is currently no or only insufficient vaccine protection (e.g. Leishmania, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Giardia) and which can cause serious damage to the health of both humans and animals. The potential for global commercialization is very high. Based on the patented technology, specific vaccines against parasites or parasite families can be developed step by step until they are approved and ready for the market.

2. Vaccines against certain tumour cells

Scientific scientific research has also shown that the new vaccine is effective against certain tumor cells. This means that the new technology will most likely also enable new treatment paths against tumor cells against which a vaccine can be specifically developed (a step towards personalized medical treatment)—this would be a significant advance in cancer.

3. Oral vaccination platform

Years ago, the Argentinian research group developed and patented an oral vaccination platform that allows it to administer existing common vaccines that previously had to be injected orally. VacciMed-Oral GmbH is about to conclude negotiations on the acquisition of the license for this patent and plans, in cooperation with partners from the pharmaceutical industry, to successively convert common vaccines that currently still have to be injected into orally administered vaccines (every common vaccine administered orally instead of injected is a “small” step forward – no needles or disposable syringes, no specialized personnel, no need for a doctor, no cold chains would be necessary, and the fear of the syringe is eliminated for young and adult patients – all in all, the many small steps represent a major step forward). 

4. Oral vaccination against the Sars-CoV-2 virus

At the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Argentinian research group began to develop an oral vaccine against the Sars-CoV-2 virus. In cooperation with researchers from Sorbonne University in Paris, the technology for an oral vaccine against the Sars-Covid-2 virus was successfully patented in August 2021. VacciMed-Oral GmbH is in negotiations to acquire the license for this patent.

LOOKING FORWARD

We strongly believe that the new technologies and products – vaccines against parasites/parasite families, the oral vaccination platform (instead of injected, orally administered vaccines – both current and new vaccines) and the oral vaccination against the Sars-CoV-2 virus represents a milestone in medicine.

SUMMARY

  1. Vaccines against parasites (animal health, human health) starting with Giardia lamblia (animal health), Tritrichomonas foetus (animal health), Trypanosoma brucei (human and animal health).
  2. Oral vaccination instead of injected vaccination of common vaccines
  3. Oral vaccination against Sars-CoV-2 virus

Given the easing of the pandemic and the relatively high vaccination rate in the population, one might think that developing an oral vaccine against Sars-CoV-2 is of little interest until it is approved and ready for the market. However, the oral vaccine has a major advantage over the injected anti-COVID vaccines: oral administration immunizes the mucous membranes first and foremost, which are the gateway for infection by the virus. The oral vaccine, therefore, not only prevents a severe course of the disease but also the infection itself. This is a unique feature of the oral vaccine compared to injectable vaccines.

The research group led by Prof. Lujan has also made great progress in the preliminary work on an oral vaccine against influenza (flu). Therefore, it is also possible to imagine a combined oral vaccine against Sars-CoV-2 and influenza—which, unlike the conventional vaccines against influenza or Sars-CoV-2, protects against infection in the first place.