Nexxus Scotland

Big shot in vaccine development wins Nexxus Award

25 November 2009

Edinburgh based BigDNA, a company poised to make a big impact on how vaccines are manufactured and delivered to patients around the world, has won Nexxus' Most Promising Young Life Science Company of the Year Award (East).  From the H1N1 ‘swine flu' to the seasonal flu, new viral strains sweep around the globe each year while scientists and companies race to produce better vaccines. The founders of BigDNA are pioneering new technology which is designed to construct and deliver effective vaccines more rapidly and less expensively than is currently possible.

Dr. John March, Chief Executive Officer said, "We have progressed in leaps and bounds in the last two years in terms of technology development and in progressing our vaccine products towards the marketplace. This award is fantastic in terms of official recognition of the progress we have made, and in particular, it identifies the important role that our dedicated and innovative science team have played in this progression."
Roslin-based BigDNA was established in May 2007. The company has grown six-fold, from two employees to today's twelve, half of whom are PhD scientists. Former Defence Procurement Minister, Lord Freeman was appointed as chairman last year and Big DNA announced the establishment of its Science Advisory panel last month, which includes Professor Noreen Murray. The firm's vaccine manufacturing facility was officially opened by Scottish Finance Minister John Swinney MSP in May of this year.

The company plans to begin clinical testing of their lead product, a Hepatitis B vaccine, in 2011 and then move on to develop additional vaccines, for influenza, Herpes Simplex 2 and other diseases where a high unmet need, or less than ideal vaccine, currently exists.

Dr. Karen Jervis, Commercial Director said, "The next few years will be pivotal for BigDNA as we develop our clinical vaccine portfolio.  We will continue to strengthen and build the company through new appointments and international partnerships, both in the human and animal health arenas.  The whole team are delighted to receive the Nexxus award as it reaffirms their motivation in achieving these goals."  
Dr. March initially researched the bacteriophage vaccine delivery concept at Moredun Research Institute, near Edinburgh. Moredun focuses on animal health and disease research, but Dr. March realised his work on this technology could carry over to be applicable in human health as well.

For further information, contact Kate Fink, Marketing Communications Assistant, Nexxus T: 0131 200 6412, E : k.fink@nexxuscotland.com  

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