Touchlight, SVF Vaccines Partner to Advance Hepatitis B/D Vaccine

Touchlight, a biotechnology company specializing in cell-free DNA manufacturing, has partnered with SVF Vaccines to progress SVF’s Hepatitis B/D vaccine into clinical development.

The collaboration leverages Touchlight’s proprietary doggybone DNA (dbDNA) platform, a scalable enzymatic DNA technology designed to meet the growing global demand for genetic medicines and recognized for its manufacturability and functional advantages compared to traditional plasmid DNA (pDNA). Importantly, dbDNA’s capacity for dose sparing has shown significant promise, potentially delivering effective immunity at substantially lower doses compared to pDNA.

SVF’s novel vaccine design targets essential viral components critical to both Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis D (HDV) viruses, specifically the PreS1 region and the HDV large antigen. This dual-targeting approach not only stimulates robust neutralizing antibody responses but also activates potent T-cell responses to eliminate infected cells, providing protection against HBV and HDV infections.

Jill Makin, CSO at Touchlight, said, “This partnership with SVF Vaccines highlights the significant capabilities of our dbDNA platform in advancing innovative vaccines. SVF’s vaccine strategy is a bold and intelligent approach to tackling HBV and HDV. We are confident that our technology will play a crucial role in bringing effective and accessible treatments to patients globally.”

Matti Sällberg, Chief Scientific Officer at SVF Vaccines, added, “This partnership represents an important step in advancing our Hepatitis B/D program toward the clinic. By combining our immunotherapeutic vaccine design with Touchlight’s manufacturing capabilities, we aim to accelerate development and deliver a differentiated approach to these infections.”