Synthetic Genomics, Ceva Enter Agreement on Next-Generation Animal Vaccines

Synthetic Genomics, Inc. announced this week that the company has entered into a collaboration with Ceva Santé Animale to utilize Synthetic Genomics' next-generation synthetic RNA replicon platform to develop vaccines for livestock. The technology opens the door to more effective vaccines and therapeutics.

Synthetic Genomics' RNA replicons are programed to deliver genetic instructions to a body's own cells to unleash a powerful immune response against a specific disease. These RNA replicons carry the genetic code for a self-replication engine as well as antigens that signal for an immune response. The self-amplifying RNA-based vaccine triggers rapid and immediate antigen expression within host cells, which induces strong T cell and B cell responses. These fully synthetic vaccines have lower dose requirements and simplified manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine approaches.

"We have made tremendous progress to date in programming RNA to develop next-generation vaccines that are multigenic, tunable and, most importantly, scalable for commercially competitive markets, such as animal health," said Oliver Fetzer, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Synthetic Genomics. "This partnership with Ceva, a leader in animal health, highlights the promise in deploying our synthetic biology capabilities to build RNA systems capable of improving global health in a variety of ways."

Financial terms of the agreement are not disclosed at this time.