Medicus Pharma Limited Agrees on a Collaborative Deal with Helix Nanotechnologies Inc. for the Creation of Temperature-Resistant Infectious Disease Immunizations
Medicus Pharma and HelixNano Collaborate to Develop Next-Generation Vaccines
Medicus Pharma Ltd. (NASDAQ: MDCX) and HelixNano, a Boston-based biotech company, have joined forces to create a groundbreaking vaccine delivery system. The collaboration aims to develop thermostable mRNA vaccines using HelixNano's proprietary mRNA vaccine platform and Medicus Pharma’s dissolvable microneedle array (MNA) delivery technology [1][2][3][4].
The partnership seeks to create needle-free, freeze-resistant vaccines that could potentially lower distribution costs and improve accessibility in low-resource settings. The initial focus is on co-developing clinical-grade mRNA vaccine-loaded MNAs for a Phase 1 clinical bridging study [1].
The study will compare the safety and preliminary efficacy of HelixNano’s vaccine candidate HN-0001, delivered via traditional intramuscular injection and intradermal MNA delivery [1][4]. HN-0001, a synthetic mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, has shown promising safety data in a Phase 1 trial in Australia [1][4].
The development effort is under a Sponsored Research Agreement with the University of Pittsburgh, with Medicus and the University focusing on MNA loading and optimization, and HelixNano supplying the mRNA-LNP vaccine formulation [1]. The partnership also contemplates forming a joint venture for co-development and commercialization of these vaccines, though this is still subject to negotiation [1][2][3].
Meanwhile, SkinJect Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Medicus Pharma Ltd, is making strides in the development of a non-invasive treatment for basal cell skin cancer. SkinJect is currently conducting a randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter clinical study (SKNJCT-003) in the United States and Europe, and has commenced a similar study (SKNJCT-004) in the UAE [5].
In a separate development, Medicus Pharma Ltd. announced its entry into a definitive agreement to acquire Antev, a UK-based late clinical stage biotech company, in June 2025 [6]. Antev is developing Teverelix, a next-generation GnRH antagonist, as a first-in-market product for cardiovascular high-risk advanced prostate cancer patients and patients with first acute urinary retention relapse (AURr) episodes due to enlarged prostate [7].
The specific terms of the MOU between HelixNano and Medicus were not disclosed. It is also worth noting that the collaboration is not exclusive [8].
This strategic partnership reflects a shared goal to disrupt conventional cold-chain dependent vaccine distribution through thermostability and novel delivery, potentially advancing next-generation vaccine technology with broader global health impact [3][4].
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/29/2226113/0/en/Medicus-Pharma-and-HelixNano-Announce-Collaboration-to-Develop-Thermostable-mRNA-Vaccines.html [2] https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/medicus-pharma-and-helixnano-announce-collaboration-to-develop-thermostable-mrna-vaccines/174375 [3] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medicus-pharma-and-helixnano-announce-collaboration-to-develop-thermostable-mRNA-vaccines-301280863.html [4] https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/medicus-pharma-helixnano-team-up-to-develop-thermostable-mrna-vaccines [5] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/14/2278711/0/en/SkinJect-Inc-Announces-Initiation-of-Phase-2-Clinical-Trial-for-Treatment-of-Basal-Cell-Skin-Cancer.html [6] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/06/01/2661758/0/en/Medicus-Pharma-Ltd-Announces-Entry-into-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Antev-a-UK-Based-Late-Clinical-Stage-Biotech-Company.html [7] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/17/2200179/0/en/Antev-Announces-Positive-Topline-Results-from-Phase-2-Clinical-Trial-of-Teverelix-in-Patients-with-Advanced-Prostate-Cancer.html [8] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/29/2226113/0/en/Medicus-Pharma-and-HelixNano-Announce-Collaboration-to-Develop-Thermostable-mRNA-Vaccines.html
- The collaboration between Medicus Pharma and HelixNano, based on the development of thermostable mRNA vaccines, extends to the creation of needle-free, freeze-resistant vaccines for the health-and-wellness field.
- medicus pharma and helixnano's vaccines research also involves the application of their technologies in the realm of science, focusing on the advancement of therapies-and-treatments for various diseases.
