The San Francisco start-up Vaxart has banked a $12.5 million Series B venture round, with the money going to support its work building a portfolio of orally-delivered vaccines.
Care Capital of Princeton N.J. led the round, which Vaxart says should be enough to get its oral bird flu vaccine through Phase I. Company founder Dr. Sean Tucker works as the vice president of research. And he believes that Vaxart has a platform that can produce a collection of oral-delivery vaccines "easily and quickly." The technology relies on a toll-like receptor to stimulate an immune response, allowing the vaccine to be administered orally rather than injected.
"We are excited to be within a year of launching Phase I clinical trials of our potentially revolutionary platform technology, and delighted to be working with investors with the stature and experience of Care Capital," said Acting CEO Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.
- check out Vaxart's release