Touchlight and University of Nottingham Collaborate on Next-Gen DNA Vaccine for Zika Virus

Touchlight, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization, is partnering with the University of Nottingham to develop a next-generation DNA vaccine targeting the Zika virus. The University's research team, led by Dr. James Dixon and Professor Janet Daly, is working on a DNA vaccine that can be rapidly manufactured and distributed globally to combat future Zika outbreaks. The team's innovative approach involves a proprietary DNA formulation that allows for simple injection, eliminating the need for skin delivery devices. Touchlight's enzymatic dbDNA technology is crucial in this project, offering a rapid, scalable, and efficient method for DNA production. dbDNA has the potential to reduce dosage, mitigate antibiotic resistance, and provide a cost-effective solution for vaccines in developing countries.

The partnership is supported by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as part of the UK Vaccine Network, which aims to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries. Dr. James Dixon believes Touchlight's technology will enable rapid progress and production of large quantities of the DNA vaccine at speed, crucial for pandemic prevention and vaccine deployment in developing countries and globally.