Vaxxilon

Vaxxilon AG operates as a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines. Established in June 2015, the company was a joint creation of the Swiss biopharmaceutical firm Actelion Ltd and Germany's Max Planck Society. The venture is built upon the scientific work of Professor Peter Seeberger of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and Professor Gennaro de Libero of the University Hospital of Basel. Their research into the chemistry and biology of carbohydrates formed the basis for developing a new class of fully synthetic vaccines.

The company's primary mission is to combat bacterial infections, particularly those for which no effective vaccines currently exist or where existing options are inadequate. Vaxxilon's business model centers on advancing a portfolio of preclinical vaccine candidates by licensing the exclusive rights to the underlying technologies from Max-Planck Innovation, the technology transfer arm of the Max Planck Society. Upon its founding, Actelion became the principal investor and majority shareholder, committing up to €30 million over three to four years to fund the initial development phase. The company was later acquired by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals in May 2020.

Vaxxilon's technology utilizes synthetically produced carbohydrate antigens that mimic the sugar coating of bacterial cells. These are then combined with novel carrier molecules to create conjugate vaccines. This synthetic approach is designed to be more efficient, faster, and more reproducible in manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine production methods. One of the key benefits is the potential for increased temperature stability, which could improve vaccine access in regions with logistical challenges. A notable project in their pipeline is VXN-319, a vaccine candidate targeting carbapenem-resistant *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, a superbug responsible for life-threatening hospital-acquired infections. For this project, Vaxxilon was awarded non-dilutive funding by CARB-X, a global partnership dedicated to combating antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords: synthetic carbohydrate vaccines, bacterial infections, vaccine development, biopharmaceutical, Actelion, Max Planck Society, preclinical candidates, antimicrobial resistance, conjugate vaccines, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Peter Seeberger, Gennaro de Libero, drug discovery, prophylactic vaccine, superbugs, hospital-acquired infections, CARB-X, vaccine technology, infectious diseases