VBI Vaccines Inc. announced the development of its next-generation mRNA-launched enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) technology, which expands on the company?s current proprietary eVLP technology by coding the particles in messenger RNA (mRNA). In preclinical studies, VBI?s new mRNA-launched eVLP (MLE) technology has demonstrated an ability to generate stronger B- and T-cell signals than those seen with other mRNA vaccines tested. The MLE technology also has the added benefit of streamlined and accelerated chemistry, manufacturing, and control (CMC) processes and manufacturing timelines, similar to other known mRNA vaccine production platforms. VBI?s MLE Program Highlights: Multiple animal studies have assessed MLE presentation of target antigens compared to mRNA-expression alone ?

studies conducted include target antigens from cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and coronaviruses Immunologic Responses ? Breadth & Potency: MLE presentation of multiple antigens induced up to 10-fold higher neutralizing antibody responses vs. standard mRNA expression MLE presentation of multiple antigens enhanced the induction of polyfunctional CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses ?

balanced, polyfunctional T-cells typically correlate with enhanced efficacy in both preventive and therapeutic settings Breadth and quality of immune response to MLE technology expand the potential for MLE-targeted therapies across infectious disease, cancer, and allergic and autoimmune disease indications Durability of Immune Response: Mice vaccinated with MLE-coded antigens experienced 12-fold stronger memory recall responses compared to standard mRNA-coded antigens alone, when challenged 7 months following immunization Rapid immunologic recall responses can have clinical benefit in the form of improved durability of protection as well as protection against viral reactivation Functional Engineering: Leveraging the flexibility of VBI?s eVLP technology, target antigens can be expressed both internally and externally with the potential to ?tune? the desired immune response. Standard mRNA vaccines are transported to cells in a lipid nanoparticle, carrying instructions in the form of genetic code that teach the immune system to generate proteins that trigger an immune response to a target antigen.

VBI?s MLE approach adds a structural viral protein core ? the same protein at the core of VBI?s eVLPs ? to an mRNA vaccine.

The addition of this protein instructs cells not only to create target antigens, but also to create eVLPs in vivo, which then circulate in the body, provoking the immune system to drive potent B-cell and T-cell responses.