BRIEF—Ziphius Vaccines to work with University Hospital Ghent

Belgian startup Ziphius Vaccines is to collaborate with University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent) in a public-private partnership for the scale up and manufacturing of certain self-amplifying RNA vaccines.

Ziphius is working on vaccines and therapeutics using a proprietary self-amplifying RNA and carrier technology platform.

The firm believes it can generate candidates with prolonged expression at lower doses, thereby reducing side effects.

The deal forms part of the Belgian government’s R&D Biopharma initiative, which is aimed at boosting collaboration and coordination in certain innovative platforms, such as mRNA.

Ziphius chief executive Chris Cardon said: “We strive for greater speed and excellence through the lab-to-patient journey and this with a better product.”