Pertussis vaccine(INSERM)

As developers contend with a more complex vaccine policy landscape in the US, investors still appear to be ready to place sizable bets on candidates targeting diseases that remain difficult to control.On Tuesday, ILiAD Biotechnologies said it raised $115 million in an oversubscribed series B round to help fund Phase III testing of BPZE1, its investigational intranasal pertussis vaccine, with a pivotal human challenge study expected to begin this year. Initial results are due in 2027.Current prevention strategies rely on acellular pertussis vaccines such as DTaP, administered in a five-dose childhood series, and Tdap booster shots for adolescents and adults. While these are credited with protecting against severe disease, that protection can wane over time and are ineffective at preventing infection and transmission, factors that could contribute to outbreaks.Ongoing burdenDeveloped at France's Institut Pasteur de Lille, BPZE1 uses a live attenuated form of Bordetella pertussis delivered through a nasal spray. The vaccine contains genetic modifications that inactivate or reduce three B. pertussis toxins – mutated pertussis toxin, deleted dermonecrotic toxin and tracheal cytotoxin. In 2023, ILiAD unveiled Phase IIb results that it said had, for the first time, demonstrated a pertussis vaccine preventing nasopharyngeal B. pertussis colonisation in a human challenge model."BPZE1 represents a compelling opportunity to address the ongoing burden of pertussis," said Mario Barro, head of infectious diseases of RA Capital Management, which led the fundraise."Across six clinical studies, including a human challenge study published in The Lancet Microbe, BPZE1 has demonstrated the potential to meaningfully advance Bordetella pertussis prevention," he said. "Its needle-free administration facilitates broad access, and by inducing robust mucosal immunity, BPZE1 may provide a more natural and durable immune response capable of preventing both disease and transmission."The financing comes amid broader shifts in US vaccine policy and rhetoric, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new childhood immunisation schedule, which significantly scaled back the number of universally recommended vaccines, but retained pertussis vaccination.Aside from RA Capital, the series B also drew participation from new investors Janus Henderson Investors and BNP Paribas Asset Management, as well as existing investors including an unnamed multi-national pharmaceutical company and AI Life Sciences.

Financing round led by RA Capital Management Proceeds to support Phase 3 development of BPZE1 with pivotal study to begin in 2026 WESTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ILiAD Biotechnologies, Inc. (ILiAD), an advanced clinical stage biotech company focused on the prevention and treatment of disease caused by Bordetella pertussis , today announced the successful closing of an oversubscribed $115 million Series B financing. The financing was led by RA Capital Management with participation from new investors Janus Henderson Investors and BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, as well as existing investors including a multi-national pharmaceutical company and AI Life Sciences. As part of the financing, Mario Barro, Ph.D., Head of Infectious Diseases at RA Capital Management has joined ILiAD’s Board of Directors. Proceeds from the Series B financing will support the advancement of ILiAD’s next generation pertussis vaccine candidate, BPZE1. Inducing both systemic and mucosal immunity, BPZE1 is a live attenuated intranasal pertussis vaccine designed to provide durable and comprehensive immunity for the prevention of B. pertussis infection, disease (whooping cough), and transmission. The Company expects to begin a pivotal human challenge trial of BPZE1 in 2026, with initial data expected in 2027. “BPZE1 represents a compelling opportunity to address the ongoing burden of pertussis,” said Mario Barro, Ph.D., of RA Capital Management. “Across six clinical studies, including a human challenge study published in The Lancet Microbe, BPZE1 has demonstrated the potential to meaningfully advance Bordetella pertussis prevention. Its needle-free administration facilitates broad access, and by inducing robust mucosal immunity, BPZE1 may provide a more natural and durable immune response capable of preventing both disease and transmission.” Keith Rubin, MD, Founder and CEO of ILiAD commented, “Today’s financing reflects the urgent need for better pertussis vaccines, the scientific rigor and operational discipline of our team, and the extraordinary potential BPZE1 holds to improve global public health. We are grateful to RA Capital for their diligent efforts to lead the round, to Janus and BNPP AM Alts for their active partnership during the financing process, and to existing investors and all those who came before in support of our mission to eradicate pertussis disease once and for all.” About Pertussis Pertussis (whooping cough) is a life-threatening disease caused by the highly contagious respiratory bacterium Bordetella pertussis . According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year pertussis affects approximately 24 million people globally, accounting for nearly 160,000 deaths in children younger than 5 years. Although estimated global vaccination coverage is 84%, current vaccines have failed to control epidemics. About BPZE1 BPZE1 is a next-generation live-attenuated intranasal pertussis vaccine designed to induce comprehensive and durable protection against B. pertussis infection (colonization) and disease (whooping cough). BPZE1 is being developed to block B. pertussis from colonizing adult and adolescent nasal passages, to protect adults and adolescents from whooping cough, and to potentially prevent transmission, including transmission to infants. While ILiAD is currently focused on developing a vaccine to directly protect adults and adolescents and to indirectly protect vulnerable infants, future development aims to immunize neonates directly. BPZE1 was developed at the Institut Pasteur de Lille (France) in the lab of Camille Locht and Nathalie Mielcarek. About ILiAD Biotechnologies ILiAD Biotechnologies ( ) is a privately held, advanced clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to the prevention and treatment of human disease caused by Bordetella pertussis . The company is developing and exploring key technologies, working with leading scientists to overcome the limitations of current vaccines, investigating the impact of B. pertussis in a range of human disease, and is focused on validating its proprietary vaccines in human clinical trials. “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition to historical facts or statements of current, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide ILiAD’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding anticipated development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical industry, levels of industry research and development spending, rapid technological change, risks associated with acquisitions and investments, risks associated directly with BPZE technologies including but not limited to uncertainties of product development, and uncertainties of clinical development, dependence on third parties, competition, protection of patents and proprietary technology, potential for infringement and other statements regarding matters that are not historical fact. Some of these forward looking statements may be identified by use of words in the statements such as “estimate,” “intend,” or other words and terms of similar meaning. Statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. ILiAD cautions investors not to place reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These statements speak only as of the date of this release and ILiAD undertakes no obligations to update or review these statements, except as may be required by law. Contacts Bill Steinkrauss Chief Financial Officer ILiAD Biotechnologies, Inc. info@iliadbiotech.com 800.603.3525