A Biopharma Working On Malaria, Norovirus Vaccines Threw It's Hat In The Monkeypox Ring

Blue Water Vaccines Inc BWV plans to explore the potential to develop a novel monkeypox vaccine using its norovirus shell and protrusion (S&P) virus-like particle (VLP) platform.

The company's S&P platform is currently being utilized to develop vaccine candidates across multiple diseases, including BWV-101 for influenza, BWV-301 for gastroenteritis via norovirus or rotavirus infection, and BWV-302 for malaria. 

In this new effort, BWV will attempt to present monkeypox antigens within the S&P platform to potentially create a vaccine candidate capable of protecting individuals against monkeypox disease.

Related: The Only Monkeypox Vaccine Maker Finds It Difficult To Meet Accelerating Demand.

In July 2021, Blue Water Vaccines entered an exclusive, global licensing agreement with Cincinnati Children's to develop vaccines for multiple infectious diseases utilizing the latter's novel virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platform. 

The platform leverages norovirus capsid proteins to present foreign antigens for immune enhancement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12,000 monkeypox cases were reported in the U.S. 

There are two vaccines approved for the prevention of monkeypox disease in the United States. Still, limited availability of either vaccine has resulted in increasing cases within the U.S. and globally.

Price Action: BWV shares are up 66.70% at $4.24 during the market session on the last check Wednesday.