Fitted labs give boost to vaccine biotech NeoVac
Published on 29 May 2024
Biotech company NeoVac has relocated to a new fitted lab and office space at Milton Park.
The move into the CL2 laboratories at 127 Olympic Avenue, will allow NeoVac to scale and capitalise on future growth opportunities, in its mission to revolutionise LNP-mRNA based vaccines and treatments.
NeoVac’s drug delivery platform, which includes a huge library of novel and propriety next-generation lipid nanoparticles, that can be used in the RNA technology, which was used in the COVID vaccines. These new lipids have greater capabilities and fewer side effects.
A spinout from Tel Aviv University, the company was founded in 2021 by renowned scientists Professor Dan Peer and Professor Sir Adrian Hill.
Professor Dan Peer, Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University and NeoVac’s chairperson, was the first to show systemic, cell-specific delivery of mRNA payloads in an animal, pioneering the use of RNA interference for drug discovery in immune cells.
Professor Sir Adrian Hill leads the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and oversees NeoVac’s clinical trial. These trials feature promising studies on vaccines against COVID-19, malaria and other bacterial infections. As a world-renowned vaccinologist, Professor Hill was the co-inventor of the AstraZeneca vaccine, an expert in malaria vaccines and leader of over 80 high-profile vaccine clinical trials.
Commenting on the move, NeoVac’s CEO, Dr. Eran Eilat, said: “As NeoVac grew to what is now over 20 team members we needed to find new premises which gave us flexibility and opportunities to scale as we continue our mission to revolutionise LNP-mRNA based vaccines and treatments around the globe.
“Receiving dedicated support from Tom and the MEPC team, our move to Milton Park was fast and seamless and included an extensive fit-out, complete with offices, advanced labs and ducted chemical hoods, which is very hard to come by in Oxfordshire.
“Benefitting from its close proximity to Oxford, Milton Park gives us a platform to collaborate with leading life science companies and gain access to world-class talent and universities. We’re looking forward to integrating with the wider Milton Park community as we begin life at our new HQ.”
Tom Booker, Commercial Manager at MEPC Milton Park, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with NeoVac to meet their space and fit-out requirements, giving them the flexibility and peace-of-mind to focus on providing people around the world with access to better vaccines and treatments.
“Joining the likes of Immunocore, Exscientia and Evotec, NeoVac is a valued addition to Milton Park’s thriving biotech cluster. We look forward to watching their progress as they go from strength to strength.”