![[A vaccine vial with the name Valley fever and its Latin derivative, Coccidioidomycosis]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/pipeline_valleyfever_hires.png "A vaccine vial with the name Valley fever and its Latin derivative, Coccidioidomycosis")
Anivive Lifesciences Inc., a One Health technology company in Long Beach, California, announced that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded Anivive a new contract (#75N93024C00009) worth up to $33 million to support development of a vaccine against the fungus Coccidioides, which causes Valley Fever.
Contract funding aims to utilize the underlying science in Anivive’s animal health Valley Fever vaccine for dogs, currently under review by USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics, to develop a similar vaccine for humans. The funding will address investigational new drug, or IND, enabling activities, including additional manufacturing, formulation, extensive safety testing, and an IND submission, before completing a human Phase 1 clinical trial.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather are setting the stage for increases in fungal diseases. Recognizing the growing global public health problem, in 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever list of fungal “priority pathogens,” calling for policy improvements and research in such areas as fungal disease distribution, patterns of antifungal resistance, and who is most at risk of exposure and disease. Currently, there are no antifungal vaccines approved for human or animal use. ![[Anivive logo on image of dog in dusty environment]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/anivive_lifesciences_inc_375x76px.jpg "Anivive logo on image of dog in dusty environment")
“Anivive is honored to receive this NIAID contract, which will greatly accelerate our efforts to commercialize a vaccine to protect people against Valley Fever,” said Edward Robb, DVM, Anivive Lifesciences chief strategy officer and principal investigator. “This collaborative effort has delivered a significant step forward in the field of vaccinology and holds the potential to be the first vaccine to prevent a serious systemic fungal infection common to humans and animals,” said Robb.
Anivive has built a strong research team to catalyze this breakthrough and deliver a first-in-class solution for an emerging fungal disease. Additionally, this program is supported by: Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson for the non-clinical development, Recipharm for the contract manufacturing, Quigley BioPharma for vaccine development support and Latham BioPharm Group, part of Sia Partners for the program management, financial compliance, quality assurance and additional technical subject matter expertise.
About Anivive Lifesciences
Anivive is a pet pharmaceutical company at the intersection of biotech, AI, software, and veterinary medicine. Our proprietary software platform accelerates the development of new, affordable diagnostics, treatments and preventatives for various life-threatening diseases in pets. Anivive’s pipeline includes 8+ first-in-class technologies for three critical areas: Oncology, virology and infectious disease. Anivive is a privately held company based in Long Beach, California. To learn more, visit www.anivive.com
About Recipharm
Recipharm is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in the pharmaceutical industry employing over 7,000 employees. Recipharm offers manufacturing services of pharmaceuticals and biologics in various dosage forms, production of clinical trial material and APIs, pharmaceutical product development and development and manufacturing of medical devices. Recipharm manufactures several hundred different products for customers ranging from big pharma to smaller research and development companies. The company operates development and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden
About Quigley BioPharma LLC
Quigley BioPharma LLC is a contract product development organization specializing in strategies to streamline and accelerate advanced development of biological products for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, cancer and allergies. Quigleys unique, industry-experienced, multi-disciplinary development team with 10 successful product launches offers a turnkey solution to public and private biotechnology and pharmaceutical enterprises allowing flexibility in resource allocation and enhanced return on investment.
About Latham BioPharm Group
Latham BioPharm Group (LBG) is a leading life science consulting company that works with pharmaceutical, biotech, CROs, academia, and medical device/diagnostic companies alike to solve complex business, regulatory, and product development challenges.
About University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence
The Arizona Board of Regents established the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence in 1996 for the benefit of the entire state. Based at the U of A Health Sciences campus—which includes the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health—the center has developed a research base that includes the state’s three universities, and an information program for the scientific community and the general public. It is still led by founding director John N. Galgiani, MD, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson. The center’s work encompasses public awareness, clinical guidelines and training, and research into rapid detection methods for the disease as well as development of a vaccine for both animals and humans. For more information, visit: vfce.arizona.edu
SOURCE: Anivive Lifesciences Inc.
ALSO SEE:
“Pursuit of a Valley fever vaccine passes significant milestone” | Posted Aug. 6, 2024
“Leading Valley fever expert shares ‘state-of-the-art’ knowledge about fungal disease” | Posted Feb. 15, 2024
“Paving a path for Valley fever research, treatment, prevention” | Posted Oct. 1, 2023
“UArizona Valley fever expert, Dr. Galgiani to receive lifetime achievement award” | Posted Aug. 18, 2023
"Urgent Care data show Valley fever season has begun in Arizona" | Posted July 27, 2023
“Dr. John Galgiani Wins Inaugural UArizona Director’s Award” | Posted Aug. 8, 2022
“Valley Fever Collaborative Awarded $3.3M in Research Funds” | April 8, 2022
“Valley Fever Center for Excellence Celebrates 25 Years” | June 10, 2021
“Arizona Economic Burden of Valley Fever Totals $736 Million” | Posted Feb. 9, 2021
“Digging Up a Diagnosis May Get Easier with Valley Fever Article, Awareness Campaign” | March 8, 2019
“Billboards, Magazine Article Raise Profile for Valley Fever Awareness in March” | Feb. 8, 2019
"New UA/Banner Health Valley Fever Clinical Guidelines to Help Avoid Delays in Diagnosis" | Posted Nov. 14, 2018
“New UA/Banner Health Valley Fever Clinical Guidance Designed to Avert Diagnoses Delays” | Posted Oct. 8, 2018
“Cronkite News Feature on Valley Fever Notes Doctor ‘Lack of Awareness’ Puts Sufferers at Risk” | Posted April 13, 2018
“NIH Awards $4.8M Grant to UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence to Accelerate Vaccine Development” | Posted Aug. 22, 2017