Developing a maternal vaccine against
Group B Streptococcus
Our Focus
MinervaX is pursuing the development of a maternal vaccine for the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes and life-threating infections caused by Group B streptococcus (GBS). The vaccine is based on adjuvanted proteins antigens covering close to 100% of clinical GBS isolates.
What is GBS?
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common commensal colonizing some 20% of pregnant women. GBS colonization may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and is the leading cause of life-threatening infections in newborn babies during the first 3 months of life. It is estimated to be responsible for some 320,000 cases of neonatal invasive disease, 60,000 stillbirths, 3,500,000 preterm deliveries, and 10,000 babies suffering from long-term neurological damage annually world-wide.
The National Institute of Health of the US has identified prevention of GBS in newborns as a major vaccine objective, but so far no approved or universally useful vaccine exists. Current intervention involves the use of vast quantities of prophylactic antibiotics given to birthing women, which has resulted in the emergence of wide-spread antibiotic resistance and may impact neonatal development.
A general vaccine effective against relevant strains of GBS is poised to have both a great medical and pharmacoeconomical impact if administered universally to pregnant women.
Prevention of Group B Streptococcal infections in newborns represents a large unmet medical need.
MinervaX Provides Clinical Update on its Maternal GBS Vaccine
Completed enrolment of all pregnant women in a Phase 2 study in South Africa and UgandaFollowing clearance from the US FDA, Danish Medicines Agency and UK MRHA, started enrolment...
MinervaX provides clinical and leadership update
Completed enrolment of 150 pregnant women in a Phase 2 study in South Africa and dosing started in an additional 50 pregnant women in Uganda, as part of same studyPhase 1 booster...
MinervaX announces completion of 47.4 mEUR financing
MinervaX raises upsized EUR 47.4M (USD 57M) Series B to advance its novel Group B Streptococcus vaccine through mid-stage clinical trials On the back of highly promising Phase Ib...