ModeX Therapeutics Commences Phase I EBV Vaccine Trial with Merck

ModeX Therapeutics Inc, announces that the first participant has been dosed in the phase I trial (NCT06655324) of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccine candidate being developed alongside Merck, referred to as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada. This advancement initiates a confidential cash milestone payment from Merck to ModeX.

“EBV infection can cause serious illness and pose long-term risks of cancer and autoimmunity. Through our collaborators at Merck, human trials to advance a novel vaccine candidate have now begun. Our nanoparticle vaccine aims to stimulate protective immunity in patients and prevent these diseases,” said Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of ModeX and chief innovation officer of OPKO.

The experimental vaccine derived from MDX2201 is undergoing assessment for safety and tolerability in as many as 200 healthy adults concerning EBV.

“We are grateful to the participants and physicians who are actively engaged with Merck in our joint efforts to explore the potential of MDX2201 as a novel vaccine against EBV,” said Elias Zerhouni, M.D., president and vice chairman of OPKO. “Our Merck collaboration combines their discovery and clinical development expertise with our innovative and unique technology platform against this latent virus where an approved vaccine could have significant implications for the majority of people around the world."