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Arbovax
®
Advanced technology for insect-borne virus vaccines
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Arbovax has a unique technology that modifies
arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) preventing
them from replicating in mammalian cells. The
result is a distinct and novel platform approach to
vaccine development.
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Arbovirus Vaccine Market
• Total annual market exceeds $1.0 billion
– Market comprised of endemic populations,
military personnel and travelers to affected
areas (c. 50MM persons/year, 2.5-3 billion at risk)
– Dengue: $0.5- 1.0+ billion
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– Sanofi “next blockbuster - €1 billion/year”
West Nile: $300 million
Japanese Encephalitis: $300 million
Yellow Fever: $50 million
Chikungunya: $50 million
– Now a threat in Asia and Europe
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
“From Swine Flu to Dengue Fever: Infectious Disease Risks on
the Rise (Emory University 2009)
“Fourth consecutive year of unusually high infection rates”
(WHO, 2008)
“Vagabond Virus” Dengue fever is spreading and some think
climate change is to blame… (Time, Dec 2007)
Brazil 2008: 87 deaths and 93,000 sickened
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Opportunity
• Arbovax is ideally positioned to take advantage of the
increased interest in adult vaccines by large
pharmaceutical companies and their continuing
investment in biotechnology companies
• Both Merck and Novartis building vaccine plants in North
Carolina.
• Recent acquisitions in the $300-500 million range e.g.
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Intercell AG by Novartis 2007
Acambis by Sanofi 2009
• Arbovax offers potential for high value exit in a similar range
through acquisition or out-licensing in 3-5 years
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Business Model
• Initial Target – Dengue Fever
– Develop modified virus through mouse and
primate testing to phase I clinical trials
– Seek corporate partner(s) to conduct trials,
manufacture and market final product
• Development of Additional Targets
– West Nile, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis,
Yellow Fever
– Equine and livestock applications, offers potential for
veterinary spin-off
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Technology
• Platform Technology
– Potential to address all 200+ insect-borne viral
diseases
– Produces modified virus that will reproduce in
insect cells but not mammalian cells
– Resulting virus produces strong immune response
without onset of disease
• Initial Proof of Principle completed using Sindbis
arbovirus
– Produced protective immunity in mice
• Strong IP 3 issued patents cover worldwide
commercialization of the technology
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Arbovax Platform Technology
MT-2
MT-1
RNA
RNA
ET-2
Capsid
ET-1
Envelope
Arbovax technology targets only the transmembrane portion of the
virus retaining all other immunologically important characteristics
“Host-Range Mutation”
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2009
Dengue Fever
• Three Dengue 2 Host-Range mutants tested in mouse
model
• Showed excellent neutralizing antibody response
– These will be tested in non-human primate model in
April 2010 to demonstrate actual protection
• Dengue 1,3&4 will mirror Dengue 2 protection
– Follow same development pathway
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Mouse Data
• Mice injected with 29µg total protein – (approx 102-103 ffu/mouse)
•Both mutants generate higher immune response than WT; this is consistent with
Sindbis data.
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Competitive Advantage
Company
Technology
Arbovax
Host-Range Mutation
GSK/WRAIR
Live Attenuation
NIH
CDC/Inviragen/Shanta
Sanofi-Pasteur
Chimera
Hawaii biotech
Subunit
Cytos
VLP
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Competitive Advantage
Technology
Attributes
Host-Range
Mutation
Single shot
Long lived protection-provides all epitopes of virus
No reversion to wild type
Cost effective
Live Attenuation
Requires multiple shots
Risk of reversion to wild type
Limited protection
Chimera
Requires multiple shots
Limited protection
Costly
Subunit
Requires multiple shots
Limited protection
Costly
VLP
Very early stage
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Team
Malcolm Thomas, Founder, President & CEO
Stemco, Guava, Bayer Biologicals, Becton Dickinson
VP/GM BD Asia Pacific $50MM Regional Business Unit
Jonathon Lawrie Ph.D., Founder & Director
Venafair, Stemco, Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Codon,
Becton Dickinson, Roche Diagnostics
Dennis Brown Ph.D., Founder
Professor and Department Head of Molecular & Structural
Biochemistry at North Carolina State University since 1997
Kathy Smith PhD, Senior Scientist
Molecular biologist UVA
Kavita Nanda PhD, Senior Scientist
Biochemist NCSU
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Series A Funding
Initial Round $1.5 million
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Piedmont Angel Network
Research Development Foundation
Mario Family Partners
Jefferson Corner Group
Management
Additional support:
• NC Biotechnology Center
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Series A Milestones
• Jan 2008 – 4800 sq/ft laboratory near NC State
• Over 50 Dengue 2 modifications produced to date
• Signed 5 year CRADA with US Army
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Dengue & West Nile
• Joint research agreement with Immunobiosciences Inc
• West Nile and Chikungunya development initiated
– NCSU BL3 facility
– 3 federal grant applications submitted
– Tested Dengue 2 clones in mouse model
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Series B Funding
$2.0 million at pre-money of $4.0 million
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Dengue 2 non-human primate testing
Dengue 1,3,4 deletion mutant development
Dengue mouse testing and serotype optimization
Chikungunya and West Nile animal testing
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010
Summary
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Experienced management team
Innovative, proprietary platform technology
Proof of principle completed
Market size >$1.0 billion
Committed inside investors
High value exit expected within 3-5 years
North Carolina qualified business venture
© Arbovax Inc 2008-2010