Iomai Corporation

Iomai Corporation, established in 1997, operated as a biotechnology firm focused on the development of vaccines and immune system stimulants. The company was founded by Dr. Gregory Glenn, a medical doctor from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and Dean Lewis, who was an employee at the World Bank. Dr. Glenn's background in pediatrics and as a clinical and basic research scientist at WRAIR, where he focused on translational vaccine research, was fundamental to Iomai's scientific direction. He pioneered concepts in needle-free vaccine delivery and adjuvants, bringing several products from concept to clinical development.

The core of Iomai's business was its proprietary transcutaneous immunization (TCI) technology. This needle-free approach leveraged the unique properties of the skin's immune cells, specifically Langerhans cells, to deliver vaccines and elicit a strong immune response. The technology was initially discovered by researchers at WRAIR. Iomai's business model revolved around leveraging this TCI platform to enhance existing vaccines, create new vaccines that were only viable through skin administration, and expand the overall vaccine market. The company's product development pipeline included four candidates, with a leading program for a traveler's diarrhea vaccine patch, which entered Phase 3 trials in 2009. Other programs targeted influenza and pandemic flu.

Iomai's primary product was a vaccine patch that offered a painless and simple alternative to injections. A key feature was its ability to deliver an adjuvant, a substance that boosts the immune response, directly to the skin. This could make vaccines more effective, potentially allowing for smaller doses—a critical advantage in a pandemic situation. For instance, the company was developing an immunostimulant patch designed to be applied over an injection site to increase the immune response to an injected vaccine. In 2007, Iomai secured a significant $128 million contract with the U.S. government to develop a dose-sparing patch for a pandemic influenza vaccine. The company also engaged in collaborations, such as a 2008 agreement with Merck & Co. to conduct preclinical studies with its immunostimulant patch.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by the Austrian vaccine company Intercell AG in 2008. The deal was valued at approximately $189 million. The acquisition gave Intercell full rights to Iomai's late-stage traveler's diarrhea vaccine and its needle-free patch technology. At the time of the acquisition, Iomai employed around 110 people. Stanley C. Erck, who had served as President and CEO of Iomai since 2000, led the company through its initial public offering and the merger with Intercell.

Keywords: transcutaneous immunization, needle-free vaccine, vaccine patch, immune system stimulants, vaccine delivery, adjuvant technology, traveler's diarrhea vaccine, pandemic influenza preparedness, Langerhans cells, Intercell acquisition, Gregory Glenn, Stanley C. Erck, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, biopharmaceutical, vaccine development, immunotherapy, dose-sparing, vaccine technology, clinical trials, infectious disease