REACH: non-regulatory announcement*
AIM: FIPP
07
May 2024
Frontier IP Group
plc
("Frontier IP" or the
"Group")
Portfolio news - TVG to
collaborate with The Pirbright Institute to combat deadly African
swine fever
Frontier IP, a specialist in
commercialising intellectual property, today notes the following
announcement from The Pirbright Institute that it has entered into
a collaboration with the Group's portfolio company, The Vaccine
Group ("TVG" or the "Company"), to revolutionise development of
vaccines to combat African swine fever ("ASF").
ASF is highly contagious and deadly
to pigs. The virus has devastating impacts, is spreading rapidly
around the world and poses a threat to the UK's pig and pork export
market, which was valued at £623 million in 2022. No safe and
effective vaccines yet exist for ASF .
The project, expected to take 18
months, is backed by funding from the UK Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and
Innovation.
Frontier IP holds a 17 per cent.
equity stake in TVG.
Frontier IP Chief Executive Neil Crabb said:
"We are delighted that TVG is entering this
collaboration with The Pirbright Institute, a world leader in
innovation for preventing and controlling viral diseases in
livestock. The partnership represents a strong validation for TVG's
herpesvirus-based vaccine platform technology."
Pirbright statement begins:
Pioneering partnership to improve swine
health
The
Pirbright Institute is partnering with researchers
at The Vaccine
Group (TVG) in Plymouth on a new project that sets
out to control African swine fever (ASF).
Pirbright researchers are collaborating with TVG
to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines
against the deadly contagious disease.
ASF, prevalent on every continent
except South America and Antarctica, poses a significant threat to
domestic swine and wild boar populations, including endangered
species such as babirusa and pygmy hogs.
Despite movement restrictions, the
virus continues to spread rapidly across Europe and around the
world, threatening global food security, causing substantial
economic losses, and devastating biodiversity and farmer
livelihoods. In 2022, the UK's pig and pork export market was
valued at over £623 million, which would likely be lost in the
event of an outbreak.
Traditional vaccine methods have
proven ineffective, prompting the need for innovative
solutions.
With funding from the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
and the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation
(UKRI), researchers led by Dr
Chris Netherton, head of Pirbright's African Swine Fever
Vaccinology research group, in collaboration with Dr Jeremy Salt
(CEO) and Dr Michael Jarvis (CSO) at TVG, aim to revolutionise ASF
vaccine development.
Dr Salt
said: "We're
excited TVG is joining forces with The Pirbright Institute to
tackle one of the most pressing challenges in
swine health. Our expertise in vaccine technology, combined with
Pirbright's groundbreaking research in African swine fever,
presents a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the
fight against this devastating disease. Together, we're committed
to developing innovative solutions that will benefit both animals
and communities globally."
The project adopts a novel approach,
utilising bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) as a platform for
developing ASF vaccines, leveraging recent advancements in ASF
vaccinology and porcine immunology. By harnessing TVG's expertise
in herpesvirus-based vaccine platforms, the team hopes to catalyse
the development of safe and effective ASF vaccines.
Dr
Chris Netherton said: "The data generated by this project on the
immune response to ASFV infection will interest researchers
studying other swine pathogens like porcine respiratory and
reproductive syndrome virus, swine influenza virus, and classical
swine fever virus. Through our collaboration with TVG, The
Pirbright Institute is not only helping to fight African swine
fever, but also revolutionising vaccine development. By harnessing
bovine herpesvirus 4, we aim to create safer, more effective
vaccines for global pig protection."
The project is expected to take 18
months and will identify a novel vaccine candidate.
Pirbright statement ends
ENQUIRIES
|
Frontier IP Group Plc
|
T: 020 7332 2338
|
|
Neil Crabb, Chief
Executive
Andrew Johnson, Communications and
investor relations
andrew.johnson@frontierip.co.uk
Company
website: www.frontierip.co.uk
|
neil@frontierip.co.uk
M: 07464 546 025
|
|
Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated
Adviser)
|
T: 0203 328 5656
|
|
Nick Athanas / George
Payne
|
|
The
Vaccine Group
|
Jeremy.salt@thevaccinegroup.co.uk
|
Jeremy Salt, CEO
The
Pirbright Institute
|
communications@pirbright.ac.uk
T: 01483 231 120
|
|
| |
ABOUT THE
PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE
The Pirbright Institute is a world leading
centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases
of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans.
Based in the UK and receiving strategic funding from the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) part
of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Institute works to
enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these
economically and medically important diseases through highly
innovative fundamental and applied bioscience.
The Institute is an independent company, limited
by guarantee and a registered charity, governed by a Board of
non-executive Trustee Directors.
With an annual income of £18.4 million from
scientific grants and commercial activity, and a total of £28.5
million strategic investment from BBSRC UKRI during 2022-2023, the
Institute contributes to global food security and health, improving
quality of life for animals and people.
For more information about The Pirbright
Institute see: www.pirbright.ac.uk
Follow The Pirbright Institute on social
media: Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
ABOUT
BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and
Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
from the UK government.
BBSRC invests in world-class
bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our
aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth,
wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK
and beyond.
Funded by government, BBSRC invested
£451 million in world-class bioscience in 2019-20. We support
research and training in universities and strategically funded
institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping
society to meet major challenges, including food security, green
energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin
important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial
biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
More information about BBSRC UKRI, its science
and its impact: www.bbsrc.ukri.org
More information about BBSRC UKRI strategically
funded
institutes
ABOUT FRONTIER IP
Frontier IP unites science,
finance and industry by identifying strong intellectual property
and accelerating its development through a range of
commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's work is
involving relevant industry partners at an early stage of
development to ensure technology meets real world demands and
needs.
The Group looks to build and grow a
portfolio of equity stakes and licence income by taking an active
involvement in spin-out companies, including support for fund
raising and collaboration with relevant industry partners at an
early stage of development.
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