The Japanese-European research consortium - being led by the European Vaccines Initiative, comprising leading Japanese and European research institutions, including AdaptVac ApS - has been awarded a grant to develop a next-generation malaria vaccine targeting Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite species globally. The project goal is to fast-track development of a novel virus-like particle-based blood-stage malaria vaccine.

Strategic Relevance to ExpreS2ion
ExpreS2ion's lead clinical-stage pipeline asset, ES2B-C001, is based on the combination of the company's proprietary ExpreS2™ protein expression platform and the VLP technology licensed from AdaptVac. The GHIT-funded malaria project is expected to provide further data and visibility for this VLP platform, which could help validate its broader applicability across both infectious diseases and oncology.

"We welcome this recognition of AdaptVac's VLP technology and the support it has received from an established global health fund," said Bent Frandsen, CEO of ExpreS2ion. "The GHIT-funded malaria vaccine candidate may help reinforce the platform's cross-indication adaptability, manufacturing robustness, and commercial relevance across both oncology and infectious disease pipelines."

Platform Impact and Broader Pipeline Implications
While ExpreS2ion is not directly involved in the malaria project's execution, its equity interest in AdaptVac provides exposure to the potential upside of this and other platform-driven projects. Additional data on safety, immunogenicity, and manufacturability generated through the malaria vaccine's development may also support regulatory de-risking for ExpreS2ion's internal programs.

Further Information
The original GHIT Fund announcement is available at: https://www.ghitfund.org/assets/attach/20250717_Investment_PressReleas.pdf