Anivive Receives NIAID Contract Worth Up To $33M To Progress Valley Fever Vaccine

Long Beach, Calif. – Aug. 2, 2024 – PRNewswire –

Anivive Lifesciences Inc., a One Health technology company in Long Beach, California, announced that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded the company a contract worth up to $33 million to support the continued development of a vaccine for Valley Fever.

Valley Fever is a respiratory illness caused by the fungus Coccidioides. It is found in the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. Most people who inhale Coccidioides spores do not get sick. However, those who do can develop a variety of symptoms, including fever, cough, chest pain, and fatigue. In severe cases, Valley Fever can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and even death.

"We are grateful for the NIAID's support of our Valley Fever vaccine program," said Dr. Arnab Bose, CEO of Anivive Lifesciences. "This contract will allow us to continue our research and development efforts and bring us closer to our goal of developing a safe and effective vaccine that can prevent this devastating disease."

Anivive's Valley Fever vaccine is a recombinant protein vaccine that targets the Coccidioides fungus. The vaccine is designed to induce a protective immune response against the fungus, preventing or reducing the severity of Valley Fever infection.

The NIAID contract will fund the continued development of Anivive's Valley Fever vaccine, including preclinical and clinical studies. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of the vaccine in 2025.

"Valley Fever is a serious public health concern in the Southwestern United States," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID. "We are hopeful that Anivive's vaccine will be successful in preventing this disease and protecting the health of the public."