RCS - Frontier IP Group - TVG to collaborate with The Pirbright Institute

Frontier IPAnnouncement

07/05/2024 10:30

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RNS Number : 4210N  Frontier IP Group plc  07 May 2024

REACH: non-regulatory announcement*

AIM: FIPP

07 May 2024

 

Frontier IP Group plc

("Frontier IP" or the "Group")

 

 

Portfolio news - TVG to collaborate with The Pirbright Institute to combat
deadly African swine fever

 

Frontier IP, a specialist in commercialising intellectual property, today
notes the following announcement from The Pirbright Institute that it has
entered into a collaboration with the Group's portfolio company, The Vaccine
Group ("TVG" or the "Company"), to revolutionise development of vaccines to
combat African swine fever ("ASF").

 

ASF is highly contagious and deadly to pigs. The virus has devastating
impacts, is spreading rapidly around the world and poses a threat to the UK's
pig and pork export market, which was valued at £623 million in 2022. No safe
and effective vaccines yet exist for ASF .

 

The project, expected to take 18 months, is backed by funding from the UK
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

 

Frontier IP holds a 17 per cent. equity stake in TVG.

 

Frontier IP Chief Executive Neil Crabb said: "We are delighted that TVG is
entering this collaboration with The Pirbright Institute, a world leader in
innovation for preventing and controlling viral diseases in livestock. The
partnership represents a strong validation for TVG's herpesvirus-based vaccine
platform technology."

 

 

Pirbright statement begins:

 

 

Pioneering partnership to improve swine health

 

The Pirbright Institute (https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/) is partnering with
researchers at The Vaccine Group (TVG) (https://thevaccinegroup.com/) in
Plymouth on a new project that sets out to control African swine fever (ASF).

Pirbright researchers are collaborating with TVG to accelerate the development
of safe and effective vaccines against the deadly contagious disease.

ASF, prevalent on every continent except South America and Antarctica, poses a
significant threat to domestic swine and wild boar populations, including
endangered species such as babirusa and pygmy hogs.

Despite movement restrictions, the virus continues to spread rapidly across
Europe and around the world, threatening global food security, causing
substantial economic losses, and devastating biodiversity and farmer
livelihoods. In 2022, the UK's pig and pork export market was valued at over
£623 million, which would likely be lost in the event of an outbreak.

Traditional vaccine methods have proven ineffective, prompting the need for
innovative solutions.

With funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs)
and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
(https://www.ukri.org/councils/bbsrc/) , part of UK Research and Innovation
(UKRI) (https://www.ukri.org/) , researchers led by Dr Chris Netherton, head
of Pirbright's African Swine Fever Vaccinology research group, in
collaboration with Dr Jeremy Salt (CEO) and Dr Michael Jarvis (CSO) at TVG,
aim to revolutionise ASF vaccine development.

Dr Salt said: "We're excited TVG is joining forces with The Pirbright
Institute to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in swine health. Our
expertise in vaccine technology, combined with Pirbright's groundbreaking
research in African swine fever, presents a unique opportunity to make a real
difference in the fight against this devastating disease. Together, we're
committed to developing innovative solutions that will benefit both animals
and communities globally."

The project adopts a novel approach, utilising bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4)
as a platform for developing ASF vaccines, leveraging recent advancements in
ASF vaccinology and porcine immunology. By harnessing TVG's expertise in
herpesvirus-based vaccine platforms, the team hopes to catalyse the
development of safe and effective ASF vaccines.

Dr Chris Netherton said: "The data generated by this project on the immune
response to ASFV infection will interest researchers studying other swine
pathogens like porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus, swine
influenza virus, and classical swine fever virus. Through our collaboration
with TVG, The Pirbright Institute is not only helping to fight African swine
fever, but also revolutionising vaccine development. By harnessing bovine
herpesvirus 4, we aim to create safer, more effective vaccines for global pig
protection."

 

The project is expected to take 18 months and will identify a novel vaccine
candidate.

 

Pirbright statement ends

 

 

 

ENQUIRIES

                Frontier IP Group Plc                                                   T: 020 7332 2338
                Neil Crabb, Chief Executive                                             neil@frontierip.co.uk

                Andrew Johnson, Communications and investor relations                   M: 07464 546 025

                andrew.johnson@frontierip.co.uk

                Company website: www.frontierip.co.uk (http://www.frontierip.co.uk/)
                Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser)                             T: 0203 328 5656
                Nick Athanas / George Payne

 The Vaccine Group                                                                      Jeremy.salt@thevaccinegroup.co.uk
 Jeremy Salt, CEO

 The Pirbright Institute

                                                                                        communications@pirbright.ac.uk

                                                                                        T: 01483 231 120

 

ABOUT THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research
and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread
from animals to humans. Based in the UK and receiving strategic funding from
the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) part of UK
Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Institute works to enhance capability to
contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important
diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience.

The Institute is an independent company, limited by guarantee and a registered
charity, governed by a Board of non-executive Trustee Directors.

With an annual income of £18.4 million from scientific grants and commercial
activity, and a total of £28.5 million strategic investment from BBSRC UKRI
during 2022-2023, the Institute contributes to global food security and
health, improving quality of life for animals and people.

For more information about The Pirbright Institute see: www.pirbright.ac.uk
(https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/)

Follow The Pirbright Institute on social media: Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/ThePirbrightInstitute) Twitter
(https://twitter.com/Pirbright_Inst) Linkedin
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pirbright-institute)

ABOUT BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of
UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a
grant-in-aid from the UK government.

BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the
UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic
growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and
beyond.

Funded by government, BBSRC invested £451 million in world-class bioscience
in 2019-20. We support research and training in universities and strategically
funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society
to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier,
longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as
farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

More information about BBSRC UKRI, its science and its impact:
www.bbsrc.ukri.org (https://bbsrc.ukri.org/)

More information about BBSRC UKRI strategically funded institutes
(https://bbsrc.ukri.org/research/institutes/strategically-funded-institutes/)

 

 

ABOUT FRONTIER IP

Frontier IP unites science, finance and industry by identifying strong
intellectual property and accelerating its development through a range of
commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's work is involving
relevant industry partners at an early stage of development to ensure
technology meets real world demands and needs.

The Group looks to build and grow a portfolio of equity stakes and licence
income by taking an active involvement in spin-out companies, including
support for fund raising and collaboration with relevant industry partners at
an early stage of development.

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