X-Vax packs $56m into series A

X-Vax Technology, a US-based herpes vaccine developer based on research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, received $56m on Tuesday in a series A round featuring Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, the corporate venturing vehicle for medical products group Johnson & Johnson.
The round included Alexandria Venture Investments, the strategic investment arm of life sciences real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities, in addition to immunobiological drug developer Serum Institute of India, impact investment fund Adjuvant Capital and FF DSF VI, a vehicle formed by venture capital firm Founders Fund.
Founded in 2015, X-Vax Technology is prioritising the development of a vaccine for herpes simplex, a highly contagious group of viruses that count pain and ulcers among their symptoms.
The vaccine, dubbed ∆gD-2, consists of a genetically modified herpes simplex virus where the gene glycoprotein D has been removed. As a result, ∆gD-2 would invoke different immune system antibodies to those activated by existing herpes vaccines.
The approach is intended to lead to improved efficacy while making patient immunity less likely. The series A round will support the progression, development and production of ∆gD-2, through activities including a planned phase 1 clinical study.
∆gD-2 was co-invented at Albert Einstein College of Medicine by William Jacobs, professor of microbiology and immunology, and Betsy Herold, professor of paediatrics, microbiology and immunology.
X-Vax had previously secured $100,000 of a planned $1m options issue in 2016, according to a regulatory filing.
– A version of this article first appeared on our sister site, Global Corporate Venturing.