Posted: 21 March 2024
VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd (“VivaZome”) and La Trobe University (“La Trobe”) are pleased to announce that they will be collaborating to explore the therapeutic potential for VivaZome’s extracellular vesicles (EVs) in models of stroke in the laboratory of Professor Chris Sobey. This collaborative effort brings together VivaZome’s expertise in EV manufacturing and La Trobe’s stroke research capabilities led by Professor Sobey. The study entitled “Anti-inflammatory exosomes for stroke: a proof-of-concept (PoC) pilot study” is supported by a $300k grant from the La Trobe Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Fund.
Professor Sobey said: “Besides thrombolytic drugs and mechanical clot removal, for which only approximately 20% of stroke victims are eligible, there is no other treatment for acute stroke patients. Unfortunately, various single drug treatments have failed in clinical trials, probably because there are multiple complex mechanisms involved in post-stroke brain injury. Targeting a single mechanism is therefore insufficient to impact the devastating pathology. EV-based treatments have the potential to deliver multiple beneficial mediators to the injured brain. We are very keen to test VivaZome’s anti-inflammatory EVs in our stroke models and the support of the La Trobe PoC Fund is much appreciated.”
VivaZome’s CEO, Ms Xenia Sango commented: “The collaboration aims to advance the development of innovative therapies that harness the potential of extracellular vesicles. VivaZome is pleased to be working alongside Professor Sobey and his team, leveraging our expertise in producing purified EV preparations from proprietary cell lines to make meaningful contributions to stroke research. These EVs have exhibited potent anti-inflammatory properties in various laboratory tests and animal models. This collaboration marks another significant step in our long-standing and mutually-beneficial relationship with La Trobe University.”
Ms Natalia Alvarez-Lopez, Deputy Director, Business Development and Commercialisation at La Trobe said: “The La Trobe Proof-of-Concept Fund aims to foster the development of commercially relevant services and products stemming from research activities at La Trobe. The collaboration with VivaZome and Professor Sobey’s team exemplifies the impactful outcomes that arise when academic expertise converges with industry innovation. We are enthusiastic about the potential benefits this project holds for stroke patients worldwide.”
The PoC project will commence in early 2024. Subject to the outcomes, further studies will explore customisation of EVs and scale-up of manufacturing in support of potential non-clinical and clinical development.
About La Trobe University:
For more than 50 years, La Trobe University has been transforming people and societies. The University works collaboratively across disciplines and with partners to develop fresh ways of thinking and conducting research – constantly seeking new ways to engage with and better serve its partners and communities, to build relationships and develop solutions for the issues facing society. Along with holding its top 300 ranking in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024, La Trobe is the top improver among Australia’s top 20 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2024, rising 74 places to claim its new spot at 242 of the 1,500 universities evaluated.
About VivaZome:
VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd is a privately-held Australian biotech company, with operational headquarters at the La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. VivaZome aims to develop and commercialise customised EV-based therapies for debilitating and life-threatening disorders, with a focus on neurological disorders, retinal disease and ischaemic conditions. VivaZome is developing new technologies, intellectual property and manufacturing processes that apply generically to EV therapies. These will underpin the Company’s development of specific EV products for its target indications. The VivaZome team has extensive expertise in the development and commercialisation of biological therapies, together with a wide network of expert contacts in the Australian and global biotech communities.
VivaZome acknowledges the support of the Department of Industry and Science through the CRC-P program, and the contribution of its CRC-P partners: Australian National University, The University of Queensland, La Trobe University, Cytiva and SeerPharma Pty Ltd.
About Stroke:
The health and economic burden of stroke is enormous and increasing. According to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), every year 795,000 people in the US have a stroke. In Australia, there are 50,000 strokes p.a. (WHO).
The Global Stroke Factsheet (2022) reveals that the lifetime risk of developing a stroke has increased by 50% over the last 17 years, with 1 in 4 people currently anticipated to suffer a stroke in their lifetime.
In Australia only, the economic cost of stroke in 2020 exceeded $6.2 billion, with a further $26.0 billion in lost wellbeing – due to short and long-term disability, and premature death (Deloitte). The total global direct (e.g., treatment, rehabilitation, and social care) and indirect costs (e.g., income losses) of stroke in 2017 were estimated to be US$891 billion, equivalent to 1.12% of global GDP (Lancet editorial 2023).
