Nexxus Scotland

BigDNA

Vaccine development company Big DNA has developed a novel technology to fight off viruses without the need for booster treatments.

The company was set up by Dr John March as a result of technology developed at the Moredun Research Institute in Edinburgh, which specialises in research into the treatment of animal diseases.

Dr March saw the potential for his research into animal vaccinations to also apply to human infections and set about forming Big DNA, which was established in May 2007.

Two years later, thanks to its unique bacteriophage vaccine technology, the company is on its way to becoming a serious player in the international vaccine market.

The technology is based on bacteriophage (or phage) - the natural enemy of bacteria. Big DNA have modified the phage to be able to ‘deliver' vaccines against other pathogens, such as viruses. The company has now been able to use the technology to create vaccines which enable the body's immune system to develop strong defences against particular pathogens.    

The vaccine works by taking the virus antigen - the DNA which causes infection - and placing it inside the phage, which acts as a protective ‘coat'. This is then delivered to the individual, normally by means of injection.

Once inside the body, the immune system immediately recognises the phage as foreign and deploys defences to destroy it. When the immune cells engulf the vaccine, the antigen goes to the nucleus of the immune cell. There, the cell ‘translates' the antigen DNA into a new protein which enables the body's immune system to create new antibodies against the protein and the individual is then protected.

This differs from traditional vaccines which usually require chemical boosters known as adjuvants, to achieve the same protective effect.
 
Karen Jervis, Chief Operating Officer/Commercial Director of Big DNA, said she had been inspired to join the company in November 2008 following a distinguished career in life sciences, first as a scientist, then as head of business development at companies such as Viragen and CXR Biosciences.

She said: "This is really exciting technology and there's been a great buzz about it in the life sciences industry. The possibilities for it are huge - it's a novel platform and very adaptable to different infections."

The technology has already received Proof of Concept funding from Scottish Enterprise, as well as additional backing from an international consortium of private and institutional investors.

Since the technology has been proven, Big DNA has decided to focus on developing a vaccine to prevent the viral infection hepatitis B.

Karen said: "Hepatitis B is an ideal first disease for us to target since it's a well-understood virus and so allows us to showcase what this technology can do without a high risk of failing at clinical trial stage."

Big DNA is on course to take the product to clinical trials in 2011, and  plans to work with commercial partners to produce the vaccination under licensing agreements.

This also has the potential to yield a new weapon in the effective tackling of hepatitis B among renal dialysis patients, who are less able to fight off the infection than sufferers with healthy kidney function.

From there, the company intends to develop further phage vaccines aimed at common infections such as influenza.

Another significant advantage of the technology is a lesser requirement for continuing vaccinations. Once the phage vaccination has been used to stimulate the body into producing effective antibodies, Big DNA is hopeful that in the long-term it should not be necessary to provide booster immunisations as is currently commonplace with existing vaccinations.

Karen said: "Though the technology used to create it is sophisticated, the vaccine itself is relatively simple and doesn't require the use of booster injections. That also reduces production costs, and because there is no need for a chemical booster there is less risk of adverse side effects in the patient."

Using existing technology to create vaccinations can also be a complicated and lengthy process.

Most current vaccines  have to be grown in chicken eggs, and take months to reach the stage where they can be used in clinical treatments. Big DNA's technology will ultimately allow vaccines to be developed and manufactured in a matter of weeks, using standard equipment such as bioreactors.

Karen said: "This technology is something different and it's very flexible in its application. We know it works, and people are looking at it with some interest because to a certain degree it's de-risked - we know we've got something really good here and it's a hugely exciting company in which to be involved."

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