San Francisco-based biotech Vaxart announced this week that it will be refocusing and letting go of 27% of its workforce in an attempt to extend its cash runway and prioritize its norovirus candidate.
The company, which had been advancing a COVID-19 oral vaccine, also revealed that further COVID programs would be postponed until it could determine the best development plan.
Now, Vaxart will prioritize its oral norovirus program which has already shown efficacy in young and elderly populations in six clinical trials. Back in Dec., Vaxart announced a new study of its oral bivalent norovirus candidate, supported by the Gates Foundation, focused on protecting breastfeeding mothers and their infants. The vaccine targets small intestine antibodies in addition to circulating antibodies in order to produce immune protection.
There is currently no approved vaccine against norovirus. Every year, the norovirus causes disease in 19 to 21 million U.S. patients, and is responsible for over 400,000 emergency department visits. According to Vaxart, the cost on the economy is estimated at $10.5 billion annually.
