Dutch vaccine development company MUCOSIS B.V. announced today that Dr. Roberto Grimaldi, MD was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Mucosis. Dr. Grimaldi is an accomplished executive and consultant to the vaccine industry who brings over 25 years of experience. As an expert on vaccine development he will lead the Mucosis development programs into clinical trials in the near future.
Before joining Mucosis as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grimaldi was Executive Vice President at Crucell N.V., responsible for product development and regulatory affairs. He also held responsible positions amongst others in Chiron Vaccines, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Sandoz and Farmitalia Carlo Erba. Dr. Grimaldi holds a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia (Italy), and is specialized in clinical pharmacology. “Taking our vaccine programs into clinical development is key to Mucosis,” commented CEO Govert Schouten. “Our ability to attract such a highly-experienced person to lead these efforts gives us further confidence in a successful outcome of the various programs ongoing.”
Mucosis gives priority to taking its lead product FluGEM™ into clinical development. This innovative influenza vaccine can be administered by a simple spray in the nose. The FluGEM™ program is particularly directed at achieving better protection against seasonal influenza in vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly.
About Mucosis
Mucosis B.V. is a Dutch biotechnology company developing innovative mucosal vaccines that can be applied needle-free via the nose or mouth. Mucosis’s lead product candidates are FluGEM™, an intranasal vaccine to prevent influenza, and PneuGEM™, a vaccine preventing diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Mucosis’s vaccines are based on the patented Mimopath™ technology. This technology enables a more natural immune response as well as a broad base of protection.
About Mimopath™ technology
Mimopath™ technology is based on Lactococcus lactis, a safe bacterium commonly used in the food industry. Mucosis has developed an easy technique to formulate the L. lactis bacteria into non-living particles that can be loaded with antigens from viral, bacterial, or parasitic origin. The antigen-covered particles form a vaccine that can be delivered into the nose or mouth, without the need for a needle. These vaccines raise protective immunity by activation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system.
