Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (TNXP) and Bilthoven Biologicals have joined forces to advance TNX-801, Tonix’s promising mpox vaccine candidate. This collaboration signifies a significant step in the fight against mpox, a disease that has recently been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization.
Bilthoven Biologicals, part of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, brings valuable expertise to the partnership. TNX-801, a live replicating, attenuated virus vaccine based on horsepox, is currently in preclinical development. The vaccine holds potential not only for preventing mpox and smallpox but also for being used as a viral vector platform to develop vaccines against other infectious diseases.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated TNX-801’s effectiveness in protecting non-human primates against lethal mpox virus challenges. The vaccine’s ability to provide mucosal immunity suggests it could potentially block forward transmission of the virus. Notably, TNX-801 has shown better tolerability in animal models compared to vaccines based on 20th-century vaccinia viruses.
Following the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency, TNXP stock experienced a surge, rising 9.76% to $0.37 on Monday. The collaboration between Tonix Pharmaceuticals and Bilthoven Biologicals underscores the urgency of developing a safe and effective mpox vaccine. This partnership is crucial in bolstering global preparedness against the growing threat of this infectious disease.
