TVG to collaborate with The Pirbright Institute

Frontier IP Group plc

07 May 2024

 

REACH: non-regulatory announcement*

AIM: FIPP

07 May 2024

Frontier IP Group plc

("Frontier IP" or the "Group")

Portfolio news - TVG to collaborate with The Pirbright Institute to combat deadly African swine fever

Frontier IP, a specialist in commercialising intellectual property, today notes the following announcement from The Pirbright Institute that it has entered into a collaboration with the Group's portfolio company, The Vaccine Group ("TVG" or the "Company"), to revolutionise development of vaccines to combat African swine fever ("ASF").

ASF is highly contagious and deadly to pigs. The virus has devastating impacts, is spreading rapidly around the world and poses a threat to the UK's pig and pork export market, which was valued at £623 million in 2022. No safe and effective vaccines yet exist for ASF .

The project, expected to take 18 months, is backed by funding from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Frontier IP holds a 17 per cent. equity stake in TVG.

Frontier IP Chief Executive Neil Crabb said: "We are delighted that TVG is entering this collaboration with The Pirbright Institute, a world leader in innovation for preventing and controlling viral diseases in livestock. The partnership represents a strong validation for TVG's herpesvirus-based vaccine platform technology."

Pirbright statement begins:

Pioneering partnership to improve swine health

The Pirbright Institute is partnering with researchers at The Vaccine Group (TVG) in Plymouth on a new project that sets out to control African swine fever (ASF).

Pirbright researchers are collaborating with TVG to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines against the deadly contagious disease.

ASF, prevalent on every continent except South America and Antarctica, poses a significant threat to domestic swine and wild boar populations, including endangered species such as babirusa and pygmy hogs.

Despite movement restrictions, the virus continues to spread rapidly across Europe and around the world, threatening global food security, causing substantial economic losses, and devastating biodiversity and farmer livelihoods. In 2022, the UK's pig and pork export market was valued at over £623 million, which would likely be lost in the event of an outbreak.

Traditional vaccine methods have proven ineffective, prompting the need for innovative solutions.

With funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), researchers led by Dr Chris Netherton, head of Pirbright's African Swine Fever Vaccinology research group, in collaboration with Dr Jeremy Salt (CEO) and Dr Michael Jarvis (CSO) at TVG, aim to revolutionise ASF vaccine development.

Dr Salt said: "We're excited TVG is joining forces with The Pirbright Institute to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in swine health. Our expertise in vaccine technology, combined with Pirbright's groundbreaking research in African swine fever, presents a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against this devastating disease. Together, we're committed to developing innovative solutions that will benefit both animals and communities globally."

The project adopts a novel approach, utilising bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) as a platform for developing ASF vaccines, leveraging recent advancements in ASF vaccinology and porcine immunology. By harnessing TVG's expertise in herpesvirus-based vaccine platforms, the team hopes to catalyse the development of safe and effective ASF vaccines.

Dr Chris Netherton said: "The data generated by this project on the immune response to ASFV infection will interest researchers studying other swine pathogens like porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus, swine influenza virus, and classical swine fever virus. Through our collaboration with TVG, The Pirbright Institute is not only helping to fight African swine fever, but also revolutionising vaccine development. By harnessing bovine herpesvirus 4, we aim to create safer, more effective vaccines for global pig protection."

The project is expected to take 18 months and will identify a novel vaccine candidate.

Pirbright statement ends

ENQUIRIES

	Frontier IP Group Plc	T: 020 7332 2338
	Neil Crabb, Chief Executive Andrew Johnson, Communications and investor relations [e-mail] Company website: www.frontierip.co.uk	[e-mail] M: 07464 546 025
	Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser)	T: 0203 328 5656
	Nick Athanas / George Payne
The Vaccine Group		[e-mail]
Jeremy Salt, CEO The Pirbright Institute		[e-mail] T: 01483 231 120

ABOUT THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. Based in the UK and receiving strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Institute works to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience.

The Institute is an independent company, limited by guarantee and a registered charity, governed by a Board of non-executive Trustee Directors.

With an annual income of £18.4 million from scientific grants and commercial activity, and a total of £28.5 million strategic investment from BBSRC UKRI during 2022-2023, the Institute contributes to global food security and health, improving quality of life for animals and people.

For more information about The Pirbright Institute see: www.pirbright.ac.uk

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ABOUT BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.

BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

Funded by government, BBSRC invested £451 million in world-class bioscience in 2019-20. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

More information about BBSRC UKRI, its science and its impact: www.bbsrc.ukri.org

More information about BBSRC UKRI strategically funded institutes

ABOUT FRONTIER IP

Frontier IP unites science, finance and industry by identifying strong intellectual property and accelerating its development through a range of commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's work is involving relevant industry partners at an early stage of development to ensure technology meets real world demands and needs.

The Group looks to build and grow a portfolio of equity stakes and licence income by taking an active involvement in spin-out companies, including support for fund raising and collaboration with relevant industry partners at an early stage of development.

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