CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - VBI Vaccines Inc. (NASDAQ:VBIV), a biopharmaceutical company, has announced an expanded collaboration with the Canadian government, which will see an additional CAD$28 million directed towards developing the company's innovative mRNA-launched enveloped virus-like particle (MLE) technology.
The funding is part of the remaining allocation from an original CAD$56 million award from the government's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
The investment aims to advance VBI's proprietary MLE platform, which has shown promise in preclinical studies to induce strong B-cell and T-cell responses. This next-generation vaccine technology uses messenger RNA to code for virus-like particles within the body, potentially offering streamlined manufacturing processes similar to other mRNA vaccines.
VBI's President and CEO, Jeff Baxter (NYSE:BAX), expressed gratitude for the government's continued support, which he believes will help revolutionize particulate vaccines. The collaboration also involves the National Research Council of Canada, focusing on the development of stable cell lines and optimizing manufacturing for late-stage clinical studies.
A pan-coronavirus MLE candidate is also under development to aid future epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
The MLE technology integrates a structural viral protein core into the mRNA vaccine, instructing cells to produce not only target antigens but also enveloped virus-like particles (eVLPs) that circulate in the body and stimulate the immune system.
VBI Vaccines is committed to combating infectious diseases and aggressive cancers through its virus-like particle (VLP) technologies, including eVLP and MLE platforms. The company has operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ottawa, Canada, and Rehovot, Israel.
This expansion of the partnership with the Canadian government represents a significant step in VBI's efforts to validate and expand its MLE technology. The company's MLE platform is also being evaluated by potential partners, indicating a growing interest in this novel approach to vaccine development. The information for this article is based on a press release statement.
InvestingPro Insights
As VBI Vaccines Inc. (NASDAQ:VBIV) continues to garner support for its innovative mRNA-launched enveloped virus-like particle (MLE) technology, investors and industry observers are closely monitoring the company's financials and market performance.
According to real-time data from InvestingPro, VBI Vaccines has a market capitalization of 14.64 million USD, reflecting its position within the biopharmaceutical sector. Despite a remarkable revenue growth rate of 833.56% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, the company's financial metrics indicate challenges such as a negative gross profit margin of -58.73% during the same period.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that while analysts expect net income and sales growth in the current year, VBI Vaccines is quickly burning through cash and has short-term obligations that exceed its liquid assets.
Moreover, the company has not been profitable over the last twelve months, and its stock price has experienced significant volatility and a substantial decline over the last year. The price of VBIV's stock at the previous close was 0.6 USD, which is just 6.48% of its 52-week high, signaling potential concerns for investors.
For those interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers additional insights. With a total of 12 InvestingPro Tips available, users can gain a more comprehensive understanding of VBI Vaccines' financial health and market potential. By using the coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can receive an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription to stay ahead with real-time data and expert analysis. The next earnings date for VBI Vaccines is set for May 14, 2024, which will be a key moment for investors to assess the company's performance and outlook.
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