Michigan has a Rich Legacy as the Birthplace of Innovation

Michigan has a Rich Legacy as the Birthplace of Innovation

BlueWillow is a part of that legacy.

Founded as NanoBio Corporation in 2000 by Dr. James Baker, a leading physician and researcher at the University of Michigan, BlueWillow is an Ann Arbor-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of intranasal vaccines for respiratory and sexually transmitted infections.

For the past 18 years, the company has been conducting innovative research that has the potential to evolve the healthcare landscape through the utilization of its oil-in-water emulsion. The mixture, made up of tiny droplets of soybean oil and solvent about 1/400 th the width of the average human hair, explodes on contact with skin and binds with bacteria. The company recently shifted to the development of nanoemulsion vaccines after generating compelling supportive data. With that shift in focus came the new name, BlueWillow, a subtle nod to the University of Michigan and the company’s established roots in the bioscience industry.

BlueWillow continued to harness its patented NanoVax adjuvant technology that uses the nanoemulsion in intranasal vaccines that elicit both mucosal and systemic immunity, a clear differentiator to traditional intramuscular vaccines that do not provide mucosal protection.

“Mucosal surfaces are areas where most infectious pathogens enter the body. Having the ability to attack these invaders before they become a problem is a turning point in the world of vaccine development,” said Dave Peralta, CEO of BlueWillow. “Our

NanoVax platform has the potential to create effective vaccines for diseases that are currently unpreventable or untreatable through vaccination.”

BlueWillow vaccines target respiratory infections including RSV, pertussis, influenza and anthrax, and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) including genital herpes (HSV-2) and chlamydia. Current anthrax vaccines require many vaccinations and come with side effects. RSV is highly contagious and is the number one cause of childhood hospitalization worldwide. Pandemic influenza can quickly spread across populations with serious risk of illness or death. Recognizing the lack of effective vaccines for these infections, the company is committed to creating therapeutic and preventive vaccines that could impact countless lives globally.

For example, current flu vaccines are administered via injection which makes access to vaccines difficult in some areas, provides a barrier to individuals who cannot receive vaccine injections, and contributes to the pandemic nature of the flu. Providing an intranasal option could lessen the number of people who go unvaccinated while also providing mucosal immunity. BlueWillow’s seasonal influenza vaccines have demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in Phase 1 human clinical studies.

In addition, the company’s NanoVax technology has the capacity to improve the efficacy of important respiratory vaccines and prevent sexually transmitted infections including HSV-2, which impacts more than 500 million people, and chlamydia, which infects 3 million people each year.

“Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the United States and 75 percent of women with the infection have no symptoms. Without treatment, women are at risk for reproductive complications including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility,” Peralta said. “Knowing that our platform has the potential to become the first vaccine in existence to prevent the serious issues caused by chlamydia is inspiring. We can change lives.”

BlueWillow recently closed $10 million in Series A financing for the development of intranasal vaccines for respiratory and sexually transmitted infections. The round was led by North Coast Technology Investors, Line Moon Ventures and the University of Michigan through its MINTS initiative. With this funding and continued support from the NIH, BlueWillow is rapidly approaching Phase 1 human clinical studies in multiple programs.

With the company’s commitment to preventing disease so that people can lead healthy lives, it is clear that the promise of this unique technology will contribute to Michigan’s biotech economy for decades to come. ■

BLUEWILLOW.COM

BIOMATTERS | FALL 201845