VBI Vaccines Inc. announced that it has expanded its collaboration with the government of Canada, supported by a funding contribution from the government's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). Under the new agreement, the remaining CAD 28 million of funding available under the previously committed CAD 56 million will be directed toward the development of VBI's proprietary MLE platform, a next-generation version of the Company's particulate, enveloped virus-like particle ("eVLP") vaccine technology that enables the coding of eVLPs using messenger RNA ("mRNA"). In preclinical studies, VBI's MLE candidates generated strong B-cell and T-cell signals compared to those seen with other mRNA vaccines tested.

The technology platform also offers potential for streamlined manufacturing timelines, similar to other mRNA vaccines. Additionally, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, the partnership will also support the development of stable cell lines, using proprietary gene-editing techniques to enable rapid updates depending on viral target, as well as the optimization of manufacturing timelines, processes, and yields sufficient to support late-stage clinical studies.