Research led by the University of Bergen (UiB) and NORCE could help pave the way to new vaccines targeting one of the world’s leading causes of severe diarrheal disease. The technology has now been licensed to the international vaccine company Valneva, and will be researched to develop future vaccines.
This is an important milestone for the research we have been conducting with our international partners for many years. The license agreement indicates that our results have strong potential and are considered highly relevant for continued vaccine development. ”
Professor Halvar Sommerfeld, UiB Faculty of Medicine
This research is the result of an international collaboration involving UiB, NORCE, Institut Pasteur, Indian Institute of Science, Tulane University, and South Dakota State University. The agreement with Valneva was facilitated by VIS (Vestlandets Innovasjonsselskap), which manages the commercial rights of the technology on behalf of the research institution.
The goal is to develop a vaccine against enterotoxigenic agents. Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a bacterium that causes millions of cases of diarrhea each year. The disease particularly affects children in low- and middle-income countries, where severe intestinal infections can have long-term effects on health and development.
“This is an important step in translating research results obtained in the laboratory into concrete vaccine development. We are particularly pleased that this agreement also supports future access in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest,” said Stein Fiksdal, CEO of VIS.
Decades of research behind the agreement
This licensed technology is based on research started in 2009 and stems from the ETEC research program, which has been led in Bergen since the 1980s. A central focus is human thermostable toxin (STh), which is one of the major disease-causing molecules in ETEC and one of the most challenging targets for vaccine development.
“We are not looking for a single breakthrough. Instead, we have worked systematically to address the challenges that make STh such a difficult vaccine target. Through rational design and gradual knowledge accumulation, we have developed a technology that is ready for further development,” said NORCE researcher Paul Puntervoll.
Under the license agreement, Valneva receives exclusive rights to advance the technology. The agreement covers both commercial markets and a clear pathway for future public procurement programs in low- and middle-income countries.
Potential global impact
ETEC is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal disease worldwide and remains a major public health challenge. Despite extensive research, there is still no vaccine that provides widespread and effective protection.
“ETEC infections are the main cause of diarrheal disease in children in low- and middle-income countries. Of particular importance are STh-producing strains. STh-producing strains account for much of the severe disease burden, against which the development of natural immunity in children is less effective. This is why we have focused on developing technologies to protect against diarrhea caused by STh-producing ETEC,” says Sommerfeld.
The new agreement provides a strong foundation for moving technology from academic research to industrial development, with the long-term goal of making technology available to those who need it most.
“Our long-term goal is to contribute to vaccines that can reduce the significant disease burden that ETEC imposes on children in low- and middle-income countries. The licensing agreement with Valneva is an important step towards that goal,” Sommerfeld and Pantervoll said.
