UK-Canada Collaboration grants Genvira and Labskin £1.2 Million ($2.0 Million) to progress immunotherapy solutions for aggressive skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

UK-Canada Collaboration grants Genvira and Labskin £1.2 Million ($2.0 Million) to progress immunotherapy solutions for aggressive skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

The UK-based biotechnology company, Labskin Limited, and Canadian biotech firm Genvira Biosciences, have joined forces with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in a groundbreaking collaboration to develop novel immunotherapies against malignant melanoma. The partnership, which is receiving up to £1.2 million ($2.0 million USD) in funding through the Canada–UK Biomanufacturing of Biologics and Advanced Therapies program, aims to create new therapeutic options through advanced immunotherapy approaches.

The Participants

The collaboration brings together unique and complementary strengths. Genvira Biosciences, a Canadian biotechnology company, specialises in next-generation viral vector platforms for gene therapies and cancer vaccines. Labskin Limited, based in the UK, is an expert in 3D in vitro human skin models, tasked with developing a novel 3D human skin melanoma model for in vitro vaccine testing. The NRC, on the other hand, will provide support for integrating mRNA technologies to engineer targeted immunotherapies.

The Objectives

The project's primary objectives include developing cutting-edge cancer vaccines specifically targeting malignant melanoma, optimising targeted antigen delivery systems using viral vectors and gene delivery platforms, and creating a novel 3D human skin model of melanoma for testing vaccine candidates in vitro. Additionally, the consortium will focus on scalable production processes, quality control assays, and robust technologies to enable rapid response to future healthcare challenges.

The Impact

Malignant melanoma poses a significant global health burden, with about 330,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths annually worldwide. This collaborative effort seeks to address this issue by creating new therapeutic options through advanced immunotherapy approaches.

Dr. Nicola Kingswell, Scientific Director at Labskin Limited, expressed gratitude for the support from Innovate UK and stated that the project represents a step-change in the treatment of malignant melanoma. Dr. Jiahu Wang, President of Genvira Biosciences, thanked NRC IRAP for their support and the NRC for their collaborative role, and stated that the partnership enables them to rapidly translate their viral vector technologies into clinical applications for melanoma.

This collaboration is a testament to the power of international collaboration in driving innovation and addressing global health challenges. For more information, you can contact Dr. Jiahu Wang at [email protected].

[1] Canada-UK collaboration for novel immunotherapies against malignant melanoma. (2022, April 29). Retrieved May 1, 2022, from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/canada-uk-collaboration-for-novel-immunotherapies-against-malignant-melanoma

1. Genvira Biosciences, a Canadian biotech firm, is focused on developing next-generation viral vector platforms for gene therapies and cancer vaccines, such as those targeting medical-conditions like malignant melanoma.
2. Advanced science, like mRNA technologies and 3D in vitro human skin models, will be integral in the project's goal of creating a new 3D human skin melanoma model for in vitro vaccine testing, aimed at improving health-and-wellness outcomes for cancer patients.
3. The ultimate aim of this collaboration is to produce groundbreaking cancer treatments, such as cutting-edge cancer vaccines and optimized targeted antigen delivery systems, that could potentially mitigate the global health impact of diseases like malignant melanoma, which accounts for about 60,000 annual deaths worldwide.

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