Tick-borne Encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) stands as a notable infectious ailment sparked by the TBE virus (TBEV), disseminated through the bite of infected ticks. Positioned as pioneers in TBE vaccine and therapeutic advancement, our company extends a holistic range of services to tackle the intricate hurdles posed by this malady.

Overview of Tick-borne Encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) presents as an acute and potentially severe viral illness impacting the central nervous system. It arises from one of the three distinct yet closely linked genetic subtypes of TBEV: European (TBEV-Eu), Siberian (TBEV-Sib), and Far Eastern (TBEV-FE). Within nature, the virus is sustained through a cycle involving ticks, predominantly of the Ixodes genus, and small mammals like rodents. Human infections commonly stem from tick bites, although the consumption of contaminated dairy products also serves as a recognized transmission route.

Fig.1 Diagnosis and therapeutics of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). (Riccardi N., et al., 2019)

Vaccine Development for Tick-borne Encephalitis

Vaccine development against TBE is a strategic approach to controlling the disease. Several vaccines are currently available and in use, primarily based on inactivated whole virus particles. These vaccines have proven effective in inducing strong immune responses and reducing the incidence of TBE in endemic regions.

• FSME-Immun: Developed by Pfizer, this vaccine is based on the European subtype of TBEV. It is administered in a three-dose course, with booster vaccinations recommended every five years.
• Encepur: Manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, Encepur also targets the European subtype and follows a similar administration schedule to FSME-Immun.
• TBE-Moscow and EnceVir NP0: These vaccines, developed in Russia, are based on the Far Eastern subtype of TBEV and require a two-dose administration schedule.

Table 1 Summary of TBE vaccines. (Phipps L. P., et al., 2022)

Therapeutics Development for Tick-borne Encephalitis

Despite the availability of vaccines, there remains an unmet need for specific antiviral therapeutics for TBE. Current management relies on supportive care, and the development of targeted therapies is a critical area of ongoing research.

Our Services

At our company, we are dedicated to supporting the development of innovative vaccines and therapeutics for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a growing public health concern. Our comprehensive suite of services caters to the diverse needs of biopharmaceutical partners throughout the R&D lifecycle.

Vaccine Development

• Live-attenuated Vaccine
• Inactivated Vaccine
• Toxoid Vaccine
• Viral Vector Vaccine
• Virus-like Particles Vaccine
• Protein Subunit Vaccine
• mRNA Vaccine
• DNA Vaccine

Therapeutic Development

• Small Molecule Drug Development Services
• Therapeutic mRNA Development Services
• Therapeutic Antibody Development Services
• Cell Therapy Development Services

Disease Models

• Subcutaneous Inoculation of TBEV (or OHFV) African Green Monkey Models
• Subcutaneous Inoculation of Different Strains of TBEV Mouse Models

Preclinical Research

• Pharmacodynamics Study Services
• Pharmacokinetics Study Services
• Drug Safety Evaluation Services
• Customized Research Services

Our preclinical research capabilities encompass in vitro studies, animal model development, and specialized assays to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of TBE vaccine and therapeutic candidates. We leverage our expertise in virology, immunology, and pharmacology to provide comprehensive preclinical data packages to support the advancement of promising TBE interventions. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.