RapidVax

RapidVax is a programmable cellular vaccine platform developed by Heat Biologics for rapid response to emerging infectious and biodefense threats. The product uses Heat's gp96-based cell platform in which pre-manufactured vaccine cells are transfected with plasmids encoding selected pathogen antigens, enabling antigen presentation through the gp96 antigen-presentation pathway together with OX40 ligand costimulation to activate pathogen-specific T-cell immunity. Preclinical work described activity against simian immunodeficiency virus, Zika virus, malaria, and SARS-CoV-2, with induction of CD8-positive T-cell responses, mucosal immunity, and immunologic memory, and the platform was positioned as a stockpilable plug-and-play biologic intended to move from pathogen identification to vaccine production within about three months.

Other names

RapidVax cellular vaccine platform