Japan-based Meiji Seika Pharma Co. has announced a strategic investment in Centivax, Inc., a US-based biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines and therapies for universal protection against highly diverse targets.
Centivax’s lead programme includes a universal seasonal influenza vaccine (Centi-Flu 01) currently in a Phase 1 clinical study. Unlike conventional seasonal flu vaccines, which must be manufactured annually based on recommended candidate vaccine viruses, Centivax’s platform focuses both antibody and cellular immune responses on conserved regions of the influenza virus that cannot mutate and are shared across strains and distant subtypes. This approach aims to generate broad, consistent, and durable immunity against both seasonal and pandemic influenza.
Meiji’s strategic investment aims to accelerate the advancement of Centi-Flu 01 and further advance its growing pipeline, which spans a pan-herpes Alzheimer's preventative, a broad oncology treatment, a malaria vaccine, and a universal antivenom.
