Vivaldi Biosciences Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Vivaldi Biosciences is developing live attenuated vaccines with altered NS1, a gene critical to viral survival. The company's lead product is a seasonal influenza vaccine and it has early-stage programs in pandemic flu. Vivaldi views these flu projects as proof of concept that might enable broader applications in the hands of a larger company.
You may also be interested in...
Start-Up Previews (06/2009)
A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, "Start-Ups Set Sights on Flu," features profiles of Alios BioPharma, Immune Targeting Systems, Marinomed Biotechnologie and Vivaldi Biosciences. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: CardiAQ Valve Technologies, NKT THerapeutics, SPOC Inc.,and Sutro Biopharma.
Marinomed Biotechnologie GMBH
Marinomed Biotechnologie, which derives drugs from marine sources, is eyeing both the OTC and prescription markets. The Vienna-based start-up has already launched its first product: an OTC nasal spray formulation of a drug based on a polysaccharide extracted from seaweed. The company has in vitro and in vivo efficacy data for this compound against seasonal influenza, suggesting that it may also have potential for treating pandemic flu.
Start-Ups Set Sights on Flu
The swine flu/H1N1 pandemic presents a lucrative opportunity for drug developers and Big Pharmas won't be the only firms to capitalize on the sudden multibillion-dollar opportunity. There's evidence that the pandemic is driving investors to flu-focused biotechs as well. In this issue, we profile four emerging companies that hope to reap the rewards of what should continue to be a promising fund-raising environment for potentially novel flu therapies.