Gennova to use mRNA tech to develop vaccines for Zika, tuberculosis

mRNA vaccines typically have stringent temperature requirements to remain stable

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Pune-headquartered Emcure Pharmaceuticals, is not only developing India’s first indigenous messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) Cov­id-19 vaccine, but also plans to leverage the platform to develop vaccines for the Zika virus, herpes zoster (shingles), and tuberculosis (TB).
 
“The mRNA platform is disease-agnostic. We had started work on this a few years back when we collaborated with Seattle-based HDT Biotech Corporation for developing a therapeutic vaccine for cancer (human papillomavirus-induced cervical cancer in women),” said Samit Mehta, pres­ident and chief operating officer, Gennova. He added that the company planned to use the platform to make vaccines