N4 Pharma Commissions Research Programme With Gowans Laboratory

LONDON (Alliance News) - N4 Pharma PLC said Tuesday it commissioned a research program with the Gowans laboratory in the University of Adelaide to investigate its Nuvec system's potential to increase the university's novel vaccine efficacy.

The University developed a novel cytolytic DNA vaccine which encodes an immunogen and a cytolytic protein.

"UoA has shown their cytolytic DNA vaccine to be significantly more immunogenic than a canonical DNA vaccine when delivered via the intradermal route," N4 said in a statement.

However, the vaccine's response is not sufficient to enter clinical trials. The study will determine whether using N4's Nuvec will increase the vaccine efficacy.

The study will not result in any financial gain to N4 which expects research costs not to exceed GBP30,000.

N4 Chief Executive Officer Nigel Theobald said: "This research program is a good example of how we see Nuvec ultimately being used by partners. UoA has developed a novel cytolytic DNA vaccine but still needs to enhance its efficacy in order to take it forward."

N4 Pharma shares were trading up 7.0% at 7.0 pence each.