Zhifei Lvzhu and Intravacc Reach Collaboration on Developing a Novel Pertussis Vaccine

Beijing, China, April 29, 2022 - Beijing Zhifei Lvzhu Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Zhifei Lvzhu”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., Ltd., today announced that it had signed a Vaccine Development and License Agreement with the Netherlands based company Intravacc B.V. (“Intravacc”). The two parties will jointly develop a novel pertussis vaccine based on the patented vaccine technology of Intravacc. Intravacc will provide all technical information including modified strains to Zhifei Lvzhu, and Zhifei Lvzhu will be responsible for the process development, toxicology, clinical studies, and commercialization of the target vaccine in the agreed territories. Intravacc will provide technical support for vaccine development.

Pertussis (whopping cough) is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the Gram-negative Bordetella pertussis and transmitted by droplets. People of all ages are susceptible to Bordetella pertussis, and infants are the main risk group. There are about 24 million whopping cough cases worldwide each year that led to about 160,000 deaths. The onset of whopping cough is insidious, and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of a minor upper respiratory infection and therefore making it hard for an early diagnosis. As the disease progresses, there will often be an aggravation of cough, which in severe cases leads to hypoxia, vomiting, pneumonia, and other severe respiratory symptoms and even death. The disease causes more harm to infants and young children.

The development of a long-lasting pertussis vaccine that eliminates the proliferation of Bordetella pertussis in the respiratory tract will contribute to herd immunity. The preclinical research data of the pertussis vaccine candidate developed by Intravacc shows that it can induce a strong systemic and mucosal immune response, eliminate bacterial colonization in respiratory tract, and has good immune persistence.

Zhifei Lvzhu has built a broad product matrix around its diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis (DTP) portfolio. Products under development include a novel pertussis vaccine, DTP-based combined vaccines, etc., aiming at providing more high-quality vaccine alternatives for the public.

About Beijing Zhifei Lvzhu Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Beijing Zhifei Lvzhu Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading human vaccine enterprise in China, specializing in the research and development, production and sales of vaccines targeting meningitis, pneumonia, diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis, and diarrhea (shigellosis). The company, located at Yi Zhuang, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, is equipped with advanced R&D center for novel vaccine development and has GMP certified modern vaccine production base. After nearly 20 years of innovation and development, Zhifei Lvzhu has successively won honorary titles including Beijing G20 Project Innovation Leading Enterprise, Beijing Small and Medium-sized Enterprise with Specialization and Innovation, Beijing Patent Pilot Enterprise, Zhongguancun High-tech Enterprise, etc. Since 2008, Zhifei Lvzhu has produced and supplied more than 110 million doses of vaccines to people needed worldwide. For more information, please visit  http://www.vaccine.com.cn.

About Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., Ltd.

Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 300122, “Zhifei”) is a high-tech biotechnology enterprise engaged in the whole industrial chain covering R&D, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and import and export of vaccines and biological products. The company is the first non-state-owned vaccine enterprise listed on Growth Enterprise Market (GEM), Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China with five wholly-owned subsidiaries and two shareholding companies. At present, Zhifei has 6 self-developed vaccines and biological products on the market, including the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (CHO cell) (Zifivax®), with over 290 million doses distributed globally, making a positive contribution to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  For more information, please visit  http://en.zhifeishengwu.com/.

About Intravacc B.V.

Intravacc, located at Utrecht Science Park Bilthoven in the Netherlands, is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) of innovative vaccines against infectious diseases. As an established independent CDMO with over 100 years of experience in the development and optimization of vaccines and vaccine technologies, Intravacc has transferred its technology related to polio vaccines, measles vaccines, DPT vaccines, Hib vaccines and influenza vaccines around the world. Around 40% of childhood disease vaccines are based on Intravacc’s proprietary technology. Intravacc offers a wide range of expertise to develop vaccine from concept to Phase I/II clinical studies for partners around the world, including universities, public health organizations (WHO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), biotech and pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.intravacc.nl.