Touchlight, a biotechnology company focused on cell-free DNA manufacturing, has entered a strategic partnership with SVF Vaccines to speed up development of SVF’s novel Hepatitis B/D vaccine into clinical trials.

 

The collaboration brings together SVF’s experimental vaccine design with Touchlight’s proprietary doggybone DNA (dbDNA) platform, an enzymatic DNA manufacturing technology positioned as a scalable alternative to traditional plasmid DNA. 

 

The company says the platform offers improved manufacturability and functional advantages, with dose-sparing potential that could enable effective immune responses at significantly lower doses than conventional plasmid DNA approaches.

 

SVF Vaccines’ candidate targets key viral components shared by Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis D (HDV), including the PreS1 region and the HDV large antigen. The dual-target strategy is designed to drive both strong neutralising antibody responses and T-cell activity aimed at eliminating infected cells—offering a potentially comprehensive immune defence against both infections.

 

“This partnership with SVF Vaccines highlights the significant capabilities of our dbDNA platform in advancing innovative vaccines. SVF’s vaccine strategy is a bold and intelligent approach to tackling HBV and HDV. We are confident that our technology will play a crucial role in bringing effective and accessible treatments to patients globally," the company said.

 

SVF Vaccines echoed the urgency of advancing the programme toward clinical evaluation.

 

“This partnership represents an important step in advancing our Hepatitis B/D programme toward the clinic. By combining our immunotherapeutic vaccine design with Touchlight’s manufacturing capabilities, we aim to accelerate development and deliver a differentiated approach to these infections.”