Beating
Herpes
Herpes
A new approach to creating a world-changing vaccine
Beating
Herpes
Herpes
A new approach to developing a world-changing vaccine
An end to a global epidemic
There is no approved vaccine for herpes. More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 around the world are infected with HSV-1, while over 400 million have HSV-2.1,2 Neonatal infection can be devastating, at 60% fatality without treatment.3 HSV-2 is also known to contribute significantly to the spread of HIV.4
Antiviral drug therapy shows only moderate efficacy and comes with significant side effects.5 Attempts to develop an effective vaccine have repeatedly failed.
X-VAX is here to offer hope for the future by developing a vaccine that can beat herpes.
X-VAX is here to beat herpes—and more
We’re a biotech company committed to developing vaccines against pathogens acquired by mucosal infection such as herpes.
Our research leads us to believe that the new approach we’re taking could succeed in defeating herpes. We’re strongly committed to this fight, and so far our work has been supported with unprecedented data in multiple pre-clinical models.
Our innovative approach came from a moment of brave imagination.
New hope, from
a new
approach.
a new
approach.
Time and again scientists may have been stimulating production of the wrong type of antibodies.
It was widely assumed that an effective herpes vaccine must stimulate the body to produce neutralizing antibodies. For decades, this assumption may have led researchers down the wrong path—trial after trial failed.
It was widely assumed that an effective herpes vaccine must stimulate the body to produce neutralizing antibodies. For decades, this assumption may have led researchers down the wrong path—trial after trial failed.
We are taking an approach that runs counter to most of the tactics used by other scientists.
Our research team had a moment of inspiration. They asked: What if we eliminate the immunodominant protein on the surface of the herpes virus that other scientists have focused on? They hypothesized that deleting a gene from the virus could stimulate the body to produce different—and more effective—antibodies.
Our research team had a moment of inspiration. They asked: What if we eliminate the immunodominant protein on the surface of the herpes virus that other scientists have focused on? They hypothesized that deleting a gene from the virus could stimulate the body to produce different—and more effective—antibodies.
We call our vaccine candidate ∆gD-2 (delta gD-2), because it is based on an HSV-2 virus genetically deleted for glycoprotein D (gD-2). With it, we have been able to prevent infections caused by herpes type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in multiple preclinical models—with very impressive results.
To imagine what’s possible, you need the best minds out there.
We’re proud to say our team is made up of just those kinds of minds — inspired by imagination, driven by passion. Our company is led by a team of executives and directors with vast experience and a proven track record in drug and vaccine discovery, clinical development, commercial operations and business development.
Executive Management
“Science is our canvas for imagining a world without herpes.”
“If you want to change something, you have to do something differently. Taking a new perspective is a good start.”
“Imagination is how we see things that don’t yet exist. It’s how we make those big jumps forward that have defined scientific achievements.”
“Innovation is rooted in the ability to imagine the path ahead.”
Katalin Abraham – Chief Regulatory & Preclinical Development Officer
“Not knowing may well be a strength, not a weakness. It lets us be open to new ideas, different opinions, to solutions we may have otherwise not found”
“Imagination allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of those we’re trying to help: to better understand how our work could make their lives better.”
To imagine what’s possible, you need the best minds out there.
We’re proud to say our team is made up of just those kinds of minds — inspired by imagination, driven by passion. Our company is led by a team of executives and directors with vast experience and a proven track record in drug and vaccine discovery, clinical development, commercial operations and business development.
Executive Management
“Science is our canvas for imagining a world without herpes.”
“If you want to change something, you have to do something differently. Taking a new perspective is a good start.”
“Imagination is how we see things that don’t yet exist. It’s how we make those big jumps forward that have defined scientific achievements.”
“Innovation is rooted in the ability to imagine the path ahead.”
“Not knowing may well be a strength, not a weakness. It lets us be open to new ideas, different opinions, to solutions we may have otherwise not found”
“Imagination allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of those we’re trying to help: to better understand how our work could make their lives better.”
Scientific Advisory Board
ROBERT B. BELSHE, MD
PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & IMMUNOLOGY, ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY
BETSY C. HEROLD, MD
PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS, MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY, ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
WILLIAM R. JACOBS, PHD
PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY & GENETICS, ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
JOSEPH G. SODROSKI, MD
PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOBIOLOGY, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
LAWRENCE R. STANBERRY, MD, PHD
PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
NADIA G. TORNIEPORTH, MD
PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCH & PHARMACOVIGILANCE, UNIVERSITY OF HANNOVER, GERMANY
ANNA WALD, MD, MPH
PROFESSOR OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
