Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Prepares Commercialization in U.S., Europe and Japan

Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and Ocugen, Inc. announced yesterday that they entered into an exclusive license agreement for the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its proprietary, intranasally delivered iNCOVACC COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

The iNCOVACC vaccine was authorized for emergency use in India on September 6, 2022.

“In recent months, we have seen COVID-19 continue to spread—despite high levels of vaccination the U.S., Europe, and Japan have achieved,” said Michael S. Diamond, MD, Ph.D., co-inventor of the nasal vaccine technology and the Herbert S. Gasser Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, in a press release issued on September 28, 2022.

“Because the vaccine can be delivered directly into the nose, it is specifically designed to block infection at the portal of virus entry. We believe it may help prevent transmission as well as protect against new COVID-19 variants.”

Dr. Diamond developed the vaccine with David T. Curiel, MD, Ph.D.

Ocugen confirmed it intends to work closely with U.S. government agencies tasked with pandemic preparedness and response to initiate clinical trials, manufacture the intranasal vaccine, and pursue funding and investment options.