BUFFALO, NEW YORK, POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO), a Buffalo-based biopharmaceutical company, announces the publication of preclinical results in the journal Cell Biomaterials for an avianinfluenza vaccine concept. The article, titled “Highly pathogenic avian influenzaH5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase elicit immunity in arecombinant nanoparticle vaccine”  presents data supporting the potential of POP BIO’s Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization (POP BIO’s SNAP™)technology to address emerging pandemic threats.

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As Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 spreads across continents and species, a vaccine utilizing POP BIO’s SNAP™ platform demonstrated complete protection in preclinical mouse models, with no detectable virus in lung tissuefollowing lethal challenge. This development comes amid rising concerns about the zoonotic and pandemic potential of H5N1, now affecting poultry, dairycattle, wild birds, and domestic animals.

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An international research team engineered a nanoparticle vaccine displaying two recombinant viral proteins—hemagglutinin (H5) and neuraminidase (N1)—targeting the dominant 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1. This strain is responsible for widespreadavian outbreaks and an increasing number of human infections.

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Using POP BIO’s SNAP™, these antigens were efficiently displayed on lipid nanoparticles via cobalt-binding interactions, resulting in strong immune responses. Theplatform’s rapid preparation and egg-free formulation offer potential advantagesfor pandemic preparedness.

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Recent developments underscore the urgency of H5N1 vaccine preparedness: over 1,000 U.S. dairy herds have reported H5N1 infections, with dozens of sporadic humancases. Since early 2022, more than 167 million poultry birds in the U.S. havebeen affected, contributing to rising egg prices and food security concerns.

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This study was a collaborative effort involving scientists from the University at Buffalo, the National Microbiology Laboratory (Public Health Agency of Canada),St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’sNational Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, and the University of Manitoba.

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About POP Biotechnologies

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POP Biotechnologies, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics and vaccines based on its proprietary porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome technology. The PoP platform, exclusively licensed from theState University of New York Research Foundation (SUNY-RF), was invented byco-founder Dr. Jonathan Lovell at SUNY Buffalo. POP Biotechnologies operatesfrom the SUNY Buffalo incubator at Baird Research Park.

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About POP BIO’s SNAP™ Technology

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POP BIO’s SNAP™ (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) enables therapid development of potent particle-based vaccines by leveraging acobalt-modified PoP liposome system (CoPoP). This platform allows for stable,spontaneous liposome display of protein and peptide antigens, substantially enhancing immunogenicity. POP BIO’s SNAP™ demonstrated favorable safety andimmunogenicity profiles in Phase 3 trials of the EuCorVac-19 COVID-19 vaccine.

 

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