Blue Water Vaccines Announces Plans to Evaluate Efficacy of Streptococcus pneumoniae Vaccine Candidate Against Pneumococcal Pneumonia at the World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona
Blue Water Vaccines (BWV) announced plans to evaluate its vaccine candidate, BWV-201, designed for preventing Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, at the World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona. Recent studies indicate that BWV-201 may also protect against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia, an area of significant unmet medical need. Traditional vaccines have limited efficacy against this condition, while BWV-201 aims to induce a robust mucosal immune response. The CDC estimates that non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia causes about 150,000 U.S. hospitalizations annually, especially affecting older adults.
- BWV-201 may provide protection against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia, addressing an unmet medical need.
- New data suggests BWV-201 limits Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infections.
- The intranasal delivery method could enhance mucosal immune response compared to traditional vaccines.
- Traditional pneumococcal vaccines have historically low efficacy rates (0%-50%) against pneumococcal pneumonia.
- Development risks related to regulatory approvals and competition remain significant.
CINCINNATI, Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Water Vaccines Inc. (“BWV” or “Blue Water Vaccines” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company developing transformational vaccines to address significant global health challenges, today announced plans to investigate the ability of BWV-201, a Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine candidate for acute otitis media (“AOM”) prevention, to also protect against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia at the World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona.
While Streptococcus pneumoniae is commonly found in the nose and throat of healthy individuals, overgrowth and spread of the bacteria can result in pneumococcal disease. Non-invasive forms of pneumococcal disease include AOM, sinusitis, and pneumococcal pneumonia, while invasive forms include bacteremia, sepsis, and pneumococcal meningitis. BWV’s new development plan aims to assess the efficacy of BWV-201 in protecting individuals against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia.
BWV-201 is a live attenuated bacterial vaccine candidate developed for the prevention of AOM in children caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. New data, based on experiments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, suggests that BWV-201 may also provide protection against pneumococcal pneumonia by limiting the ability of Streptococcus pneumoniae to infect the lungs.
While conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines are available to protect against pneumococcal disease, protection is mainly limited to invasive disease. Efficacy rates of these vaccines against pneumococcal pneumonia are historically only between
“While current pneumococcal vaccines have demonstrated excellent efficacy against invasive pneumococcal disease historically, pneumococcal pneumonia remains a significant unmet medical need,” said Joseph Hernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water Vaccines. “With this new data, we believe our vaccine can provide protection across all Streptococcus pneumoniae strains and eliminate the need for antibiotic treatment associated with pneumococcal pneumonia. We are excited to further develop BWV-201 for this new indication and look forward to addressing this need.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States alone. Despite vaccination efforts with traditional pneumococcal vaccines, the American Lung Association reports that adults over 65 years old are at 6.1 times greater risk for pneumonia infection and over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia versus healthy adults.
About Blue Water Vaccines
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformational vaccines to address significant health challenges globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, the company holds the rights to proprietary technology developed at the University of Oxford, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. The company is developing a universal flu vaccine that will provide protection from all virulent strains in addition to licensing a novel norovirus (NoV) S&P nanoparticle versatile virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platform from Cincinnati Children’s to develop vaccines for multiple infectious diseases, including norovirus/rotavirus and malaria, among others. Additionally, Blue Water Vaccines is developing a Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) vaccine candidate, designed to specifically prevent the highly infectious middle ear infections, known as Acute Otitis Media (AOM), in children. For more information, visit www.bluewatervaccines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on BWV’s current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the development of BWV’s vaccine candidates; the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; delays and uncertainties caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with any vaccine under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. BWV does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in BWV’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2022, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022 and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of BWV’s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof.
Media Contact Information:
Blue Water Media Relations
Telephone: (646) 942-5591
Email: Nic.Johnson@russopartnersllc.com
Investor Contact Information:
Blue Water Investor Relations
Email: investors@bluewatervaccines.com
FAQ
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