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Osivax Enters into Collaboration with GC Biopharma to Develop Next-Generation Influenza Vaccine
Tuesday, September 01, 2026
Osivax and GC Biopharma have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialise a next-generation seasonal influenza vaccine designed to provide broader and more durable protection against a range of influenza strains.
OVX836 is Osivax’s influenza A vaccine candidate targeting the conserved NP antigen. The company’s oligoDOM™ technology enables the production of a recombinant NP that self-assembles into a nanoparticle designed to stimulate T-cell and B-cell immune responses.
The candidate has been evaluated in seven clinical trials involving more than 4,000 participants, with reported results supporting its safety, immunogenicity and potential efficacy.
GC FLU is GC Biopharma’s seasonal influenza vaccine. The World Health Organisation’s prequalification listings include GC FLU Inj. and GC FLU Multi Inj. as seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines manufactured by GC Biopharma Corp. in South Korea.
The collaboration will combine Osivax’s OVX836 influenza A vaccine candidate with GC Biopharma’s GC FLU seasonal influenza vaccine in a single injection. The companies aim to develop a vaccine that combines different immune responses to improve protection against circulating and emerging influenza strains.
OVX836 is designed to target nucleoprotein (NP), a highly conserved internal antigen of influenza A. The candidate aims to stimulate T-cell responses that can provide broader protection across different influenza A strains. GC FLU, meanwhile, targets the haemagglutinin (HA) surface antigen and is designed to generate antibody responses.
By bringing the two approaches together, Osivax and GC Biopharma intend to address some of the limitations of current seasonal influenza vaccines, which primarily target surface antigens that can change from one influenza season to another.
Under the agreement, Osivax has received a non-exclusive, sublicensable global licence to use GC FLU in combination with OVX836, excluding Japan and South Korea.
Osivax will lead the global development strategy for the combination vaccine and will be responsible for its development and commercialisation outside South Korea. GC Biopharma will retain exclusive rights to the product in South Korea.
GC Biopharma will receive royalties under the agreement and will provide a long-term supply of GC FLU. The companies have not disclosed further financial details.
Seasonal influenza remains a major public health concern, particularly for older adults and people at increased risk of complications. The rapid changes in influenza surface antigens can make it challenging to maintain broad and consistent protection through seasonal vaccination.
OVX836 is being developed to complement conventional influenza vaccines by targeting NP, which is more conserved than surface antigens. Osivax has previously reported that co-administration of OVX836 with a seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine was well tolerated and generated complementary immune responses.
The latest collaboration builds on these findings and provides a pathway for the companies to further evaluate the combination of T-cell-focused and antibody-based approaches in a single seasonal influenza vaccine.
Source: osivax.com
