Halle (Saale), 2. August 2023. Icon Genetics GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Denka Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan, announced today that it has been granted a European patent (EP3938378B1) for its invention on norovirus-like particles with improved stability. The patent application was filed on 11. March 2020 and granted on 2. August 2023. The invention provides a way to increase the stability of VLPs derived from norovirus genogroup I strains to improve their usability in multivalent vaccine compositions where they are combined with more stable VLPs from other genogroups, e.g., genogroup II. The creation of a multivalent vaccine covering all important norovirus genogroups and strains is important to obtain a broadly protective vaccine against norovirus gastroenteritis.
Noroviruses are responsible for approximately 20% of all cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and are recognized as an important public health issue. Therefore, an effective vaccine is needed to reduce the global burden of gastrointestinal diseases elicited by it. Despite decades of intensive research in the field, no licensed vaccine for preventing norovirus disease and ameliorating detrimental health, societal, and economic effects in all age groups is available today.
The stable norovirus genogroup I VLPs were already investigated as part of Icon Genetics norovirus vaccine candidate in a successful phase I clinical study. Icon Genetics GmbH plans to further develop and commercialize its norovirus vaccine and seeks collaboration with other partners and stakeholders for this purpose.