CHA Vaccine Institute said on Thursday it has obtained a Canadian patent for its Lipo-pam immune enhancer, recognizing it as an adjuvant for vaccines that include a liposome with the lipopeptide as the active ingredient.

The patent covers both the vaccine and the associated method for manufacturing vaccines using Lipo-pam, an immune enhancer platform developed by CHA Vaccine Institute. In particular, it recognizes the use of Lipo-pam against shingles, Japanese encephalitis, and seasonal influenza virus antigens to raise both humoral and cellular immune responses.

Lipo-pam is a liposomal formulation of L-pampo, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) immunization platform developed by CHA Vaccine Institute. L-pampo's immune-boosting active substance, TLR2/TLR3 ligand, is made into liposomes to induce humoral and cellular immune responses. It can also be used as a delivery vehicle for DNA or mRNA, making it useful for mRNA vaccine development.

Currently, Lipo-pam is being utilized in the organization's shingles vaccine candidate, CVI-VZV-001, which is undergoing phase 1 clinical trials in Korea, along with other preclinical vaccine candidates targeting Japanese encephalitis, seasonal flu, cancer, and norovirus.

Earlier, the research institute had secured patents in Australia in March 2022, in Japan in May 2022, and in the U.S. in May for its Lipo-Pam immune enhancer. Additional patents are currently pending in China and Europe.

"This patent has recognized the excellence of CHA Vaccine Institute's immune enhancers not only in Korea but also in the global market," said CHA Vaccine Institute Jung Sun-yum. "We will develop various vaccines based on the patented technology and promote commercialization through technology transfer."