The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) and Lexington-based Avaxia Biologics, Inc. announced that Avaxia has been awarded one of the first grants through MLSC’s new Universal Partnerships (UP) Program. The grant will support an international research collaboration between Avaxia and Delphi Genetics SA of the Wallonia region of Belgium. Under the collaboration, Avaxia and Delphi will develop an improved manufacturing process for Avaxia’s lead product candidate, AVX-470, which is in clinical development for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
The goal of this grant is to develop an improved immunization process to increase the amount of AVX-470 that each cow produces. Delphi Genetics brings proprietary technology and expertise in novel DNA vaccine immunization approaches and other immunization technologies that have successfully generated strong antibody responses in animals.