SaponiQx and InvivoGen Announce Agreement for SaponiQx to Supply Cultured Plant Cell QS-21 Adjuvant
April 17 2024 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
SaponiQx to Supply STIMULON cpcQS-21 for
InvivoGen to Market
Agenus subsidiary SaponiQx, a leader in saponin-based adjuvant
production and discovery, today announced an agreement to supply
InvivoGen with STIMULON cultured plant cell (cpc) QS-21. SaponiQx’s
STIMULON™ QS-21 is a key adjuvant component in market-leading
vaccines for shingles, malaria, and respiratory syncytial virus.
CpcQS-21 is derived from a cultured plant cell source, offering a
sustainable alternative to conventional QS-21 extracted from a
limited supply of tree bark.
Key Highlights:
- SaponiQx will manufacture cpcQS-21, under the terms of
the agreement, to InvivoGen, who will market the product to labs,
academic institutions, and industry partners through its
international retail infrastructure.
- Scalable Production: With the capability to produce
kilograms of material at scale, the SaponiQx platform has the
potential to significantly bolster the global vaccine supply chain
by making pandemic quantity vaccines more accessible.
- Innovation in Adjuvant Discovery: SaponiQx recently
successfully kicked off the next phase of their adjuvant discovery
program merging synthetic biology with Generative AI-enabled
molecular design. With this, SaponiQx will target new saponin
adjuvants intended to pair adjuvant and antigens, in a bespoke
manner, for fine-tuned vaccine efficacy.
“This agreement is an important step in bringing cpcQS-21 to
market for the first time and underscores our ability to produce
cpcQS-21 adjuvant without reliance on the traditional tree-bark
extract process,” said Rebecca Kurnat, Head of Operations at
SaponiQx. “The availability of cpcQS-21 will accelerate the ability
of labs, academic institutions, and industry to study the
applications and potential of our adjuvant. We look forward to
partnering with InvivoGen to pioneer the cpcQS-21 market, making
this powerful product broadly available to the adjuvant research
community.”
“We are excited to collaborate with SaponiQx, who shares our
passion for innovation to accelerate the discovery and development
of novel vaccines,” said Eric Perouzel, Chief Operating Officer at
InvivoGen. “Helping researchers worldwide to access QS-21 is vital,
and it is our responsibility to select a sustainable source of this
product. We are very proud to be able to offer this next-generation
adjuvant in the near future.”
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, subject
to risks and uncertainties, concerning the development of vaccines
and adjuvants. Refer to the Risk Factors in Agenus' latest
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the SEC for a detailed discussion of these risks.
About SaponiQx
Founded in 2021, SaponiQx, a subsidiary of Agenus Inc., stands
at the forefront of saponin-based adjuvant discovery and
manufacturing. Its mission is to provide scalable and affordable
vaccine adjuvants to enhance global health. Its proprietary
adjuvant, STIMULON QS-21, forms an integral part of the AS01
adjuvant used in several leading vaccines. STIMULON is a trademark
of Agenus Inc., the parent company of SaponiQx Inc.
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SaponiQx communications@saponiqx.com