Serenta, which develops vaccines targeting chronic infections, has obtained a licence for a vaccine against bacteria that have proven resistant to antibiotics.
Serenta Biotechnology, a biotech spinout of University of Maryland (UM), Baltimore and Northern Arizona University, has gained licensing rights to a new vaccine.
The license was granted by UM Ventures, a joint commercialisation office for UM Baltimore and UM College Park .
Serenta Biotechnology focuses on vaccines against chronic infections. The licence in question is for a vaccine against bacterial infections caused by staphylococcus aureus, which is often resistant to antibiotics.
The vaccine has proven, in mice, to prevent an MRSA infection – a breakthrough that has not been achieved by any other vaccine before.
The underpinning technology is based on research conducted by Mark Shirtliff, professor at UM’s Schools of Dentistry and Medicine. The intellectual property is co-owned by UM Baltimore and Northern Arizona University.
Longer-term, the spinout hopes to use an antigen discovery platform in collaboration with UM Baltimore to develop a pipeline of vaccines against other pathogens.
Phil Robilotto, chief commercialisation officer for UM Ventures, Baltimore, said: “Serenta has committed to addressing a critical area of unmet medical need worldwide.
“This is a strong, experienced management team and we look forward to seeing the Company advance this very important technology quickly towards clinical trials.”
