VaxThera and Quantoom Biosciences Achieve Breakthrough in Poultry Vaccination Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Using Quantoom’s N-Force Toolbox for saRNA

Medellín, Colombia and Nivelles, Belgium – June 23, 2025

VaxThera, a biotechnology company that produce vaccines and biologics, and Quantoom Biosciences, a full-stack RNA partner for mRNA- and saRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, have reached a major milestone in their collaboration: the successful development of a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine that demonstrated 100% protection against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in chickens — even at ultra-low doses.

Leveraging VaxThera´s extensive experience in mosaic antigen design and Quantoom’s N-Force toolbox, the DIVA-compatible vaccine achieved full protection in challenge studies in chickens. Vaccinated animals showed no mortality, strong antibody responses, and complete prevention of viral shedding, even at doses as low as 0.1 µg. By eliminating viral shedding, vaccinated birds do not contribute to environmental contamination or transmission chains, allowing detection efforts to focus on unvaccinated or infected populations and improving the accuracy of outbreak tracking and containment. This proof-of-concept study represents a promising step forward in addressing a disease that has caused the culling of over 166 million birds in the US alone since 2022[1].

The vaccine was designed using Quantoom’s Ncode algorithm for in silico generation of a mosaic H5 saRNA sequence covering over 5,000 strains, produced at scale using Quantoom’s Ntensify^® platform, and formulated using Quantoom’s Ncapsulate^® with proprietary QCX lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to ensure targeted delivery.

Building on this success, VaxThera and Quantoom plan to continue development through dose-response studies, safety evaluations, and field trials. The mosaic antigen strategy also opens the door to potential cross-protection against emerging strains such as H7N9 and applications in other species, including swine.

“The human health is inextricably linked to the health of animals and the environment, as outlined by the One Health concept. It is imperative to conduct research in a multidimensional and multidisciplinary manner to effectively address potential threats. Our collaboration with Quantoom Biosciences is aligned with our primary objective of developing a successful HPAI vaccine for poultry. This achievement illustrates how integrating the advanced capabilities of our organizations can result in significant solutions for both human and animal health. We are pleased to continue our collaboration on future vaccines and biologics, which are driving innovation and improving lives”, said Dr. Jorge Osorio, VaxThera´s CEO.

“This is a major step not only for our partnership with VaxThera, but also for the future of RNA vaccines in veterinary health,” said José Castillo, CEO of Quantoom Biosciences. “This project shows that our saRNA-LNP combination can provide rapid, effective and affordable protection against rapidly mutating viruses like HPAI. We are currently developing a lyophilized version of our LNP formulation, a critical innovation to enhance vaccine stability and distribution in the field of animal health.”

About VaxThera

VaxThera is a Colombian private sector initiative that seeks to contribute to the health security and independence of Latin America through research, development, and state-of-the-art manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics. We aim to promote prevention programs for neglected tropical diseases by making safe, next-generation vaccines available in Colombia, the region, and the world. These capacities will foster collaboration for pandemic preparedness and global health security. For more information: www.vaxthera.com

[1] Source: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – « Everything you need to know about bird flu », available at : www.gavi.org