14 May 2021
Dr. Denis Leclerc and his team have discovered a new generation adjuvant capable of stimulating the innate immune response via the Toll Like Receptor 7 (TLR7). This adjuvant, which is a 100×15 nm rod-shaped nanoparticle, is very safe and capable of improving seasonal flu vaccines. The performance of this adjuvant in animal models is impressive and shows that the adjuvant can enhance the immune response to seasonal influenza vaccine antigens and induce broad-spectrum protection against virus strains that are different from those used to manufacture the vaccine. A clinical phase 1/2 was initiated a few days ago to validate the safety and efficacy of this adjuvant to improve the seasonal influenza vaccine in humans. This is the culmination of over 10 years of hard work in research and development. We are proud of this achievement as it is the first time that a new adjuvant resulting from university research has been brought to the clinic in Canada.