News

April 2010

VLP Recruits Director

VLP is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Florian Schodel to its Board of Directors. Dr. Schodel brings with him extensive experience as a pharmaceutical executive most recently as VP-Vaccine Clinical Research-Merck Research Laboratories. During his tenure at Merck he was responsible for world wide vaccine clinical trials as well as clinical development and licensure of novel vaccines/vaccine combinations. Dr. Schodel has earned two doctorates from the University of Munich (LMU) in Transplantation Immunology and Medical Microbiology. He also holds adjunct faculty positions with LMU and the Biodesign Center at Arizona State University. As an academic his research focused, in part, on the development of novel recombinant vaccines using the HBV nucleoprotein as a vaccine platform. Towards that end, in collaboration with Dr. David Milich, VLP's current CSO, a fully protective murine malaria vaccine was developed. (JEM 1994 180:1037-46)

March 2010

VLP Receives Grant to Develop HBV Therapeutic Vaccine

In collaboration with Dr. Frank Chisari at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, VLP has been awarded a 2 year, $600,000, SBIR for the purpose of developing a therapeutic vaccine for those chronically infected with HBV. It is estimated that globally there are in excess of 400 million HBV chronic carriers. To date, there is no effective vaccine available to address this problem. It is our aim to use this funding to explore the use of our patented vaccine carrier technology for preclinical development of such a vaccine.

December 2009

Business Development Agreement Signed with Major Vaccine Company

VLP Biotech has entered into an agreement with a major vaccine company to develop prototype vaccines using our patented vaccine platform. This agreement will allow evaluation of our platform in both invitro and invivo model systems.

January 2008

Second Patent Issued by USPTO

VRISD has received an Issue Notification for a second patent (US 7,320,795 B2). This highly valued invention relates to the compositions and methods of comprising recombinant hepatitis virus core proteins or nucleic acids for use in vaccine formulations. Claims obtained by VRISD will be extended to VLP as part of the VRISD-VLP licensing agreement, further strengthening VLP's strong intellectual property portfolio.

October 2007

VRISD Receives Patent Coverage in Australia

VRISD has received notification of patent coverage of its vaccine platform technology in Australia (App. No. 2004260665). Given VLP's licensing agreement with VRISD, this further strengthens VLP's ability to exploit this exciting technology.

September 2007

VLP Receives Funding for HCV Vaccine

VLP has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant for $600,000 over two years. Using the vaccine platform licensed from the VRISD, this work will focus on the pre-clinical development of a prophylactic HCV vaccine.

August 2007

Tripep Surrenders All Interest in VLP

Tripep, a Swedish biotechnology research company, has surrendered, without compensation, all interest in VLP Biotech, in order to focus on other research programs.

December 2006

Patent Issued by USPTO

VRISD has received an Issue Notification for a patent filed with the USPTO in July, 2003 (US 7,144,712 B2). This patent will allow VRISD to capitalize on its methods and use of the hepatitis virus core protein as a vaccine platform. Claims obtained by VRISD will be extended to VLP as part of the VRISD-VLP licensing agreement, positioning VLP to exploit this highly desirable technology.

May 2006

VLP Continues Funding for Vaccine Development

VLP has extended a grant for vaccine development with VRISD for three additional years, through May, 2009. The terms have been modified to include development of a malaria vaccine.

May 2004

The VLP Awards Funding for Vaccine Development

VLP has awarded a grant for $303,000 to the VRISD over two years to develop new vaccines using its proprietary vaccine technology. This project will target influenza, allergies, Alzheimer's and lipid disorders.

October 2003

VLP Biotech is Formed

The VRISD has formed a new vaccine development company together with Tripep, a Swedish biotechnology research company. The new company, VLP Biotech, will be based in San Diego, California. Tripep's initial investment will be $500,000 over two years. VLP Biotech will focus on developing and commercializing proprietary virus-like particle technology owned by the VRISD.