Closely held PharmaJet announced that it has signed an agreement with closely held Immuno Cure, a developer of DNA vaccines. Under the agreement, Immuno Cure will use PharmaJet’s Tropis Intradermal (ID) Needle-Free Injection System in a human clinical trial to deliver its novel HIV-1 therapeutic DNA vaccine, ICVAX.
The agreement was formalized on June 16, 2025, during a signing ceremony at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.
This new study follows the successful completion of ICVAX’s first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial, which demonstrated an excellent safety profile and encouraging immunogenicity. ICVAX represents a major step towards achieving virological control without the need for antiretroviral therapy, aiming ultimately to serve as a functional cure for HIV/AIDS. Immuno Cure is also evaluating whether the Tropis ID system can enhance the performance of its DNA vaccine and improve the clinical experience for patients.
Intradermal delivery is anticipated to elicit long-lasting, cross-reactive immune responses. The Tropis system easily leverages the rich network of dendritic cells, macrophages and T cells in the dermal layer and can provide a more potent and broader immunogenic response than vaccinating into the muscle. Tropis is commercially scalable, has been used in more than 12 million injections, and is the first and only needle-free ID delivery technology to achieve World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification.
“At Immuno Cure, our mission is to advance transformative therapies for infectious diseases and cancer. We are excited to partner with PharmaJet and leverage their Tropis Needle-free Injection System on our HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine program. We value innovative approaches that could enhance patient experience and vaccine performance,” said Dr. Xia Jin, MD, Ph.D., CEO of Immuno Cure.
Dan Mallon, SVP corporate development of PharmaJet, added, “This agreement adds to our portfolio of global development partnerships with innovative oncology and infectious disease developers. Our partners are joining our call to challenge antiquated IM administration methods in favor of ID delivery based on the growing body of evidence demonstrating improved immune responses and safety profiles. PharmaJet’s needle-free technology is safe and well-tolerated and has shown to enable immune responses that are robust and durable.”
