Hilleman Laboratories to lead development of an mRNA vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease

At the recent World Health Organization and Medicines Patent Pool mRNA Technology Transfer Programme meeting in Singapore, Hilleman Laboratories was one of four Southeast Asia research consortia that expressed their commitment in developing mRNA vaccines for diseases that severely impact the region—namely, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD); dengue; human papillomavirus; and malaria. Hilleman Laboratories will focus its efforts on addressing HFMD, 1 which is particularly widespread in Asia.2,3 The disease affects millions of children annually in this region and has been a major health issue since the late 1990s, with outbreaks reported in Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea and Cambodia. 2,3

The rise of mRNA technology

Advancements in mRNA technology and delivery have enabled the rapid development of mRNA-based therapeutics, which are recognized as highly effective tools in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including cancer and viral infections. mRNA vaccines offer notable advantages over traditional vaccine approaches, including enhanced safety and efficacy profile as well as efficient manufacturing processes and scalability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA technology played a crucial role in addressing a global public health emergency and this has subsequently encouraged pharmaceutical and biotechnology stakeholders to explore its application across a wide spectrum of diseases. 4,5

Hilleman Laboratories leverages mRNA technology for vaccine development

As partners of the mRNA Technology Transfer Program, Hilleman Laboratories will focus on developing an mRNA vaccine against HFMD up to early-phase clinical proof-of-concept. It will collaborate with research consortia to generate preclinical data, prepare phase I materials, and conduct phase I studies. This initiative reflects Hilleman Laboratories’ commitment to enhancing emergency health response preparedness by developing mRNA vaccines of interest through dedicated research, development, and early-stage manufacturing efforts. These concerted efforts will build and strengthen regional capabilities in optimizing the production and use of mRNA vaccines to deliver critical health innovations.1
Dr Raman Rao, CEO of Hilleman Laboratories, remarked, “We look forward to leveraging our expertise in working with our partners in harnessing the collective expertise to contribute significantly to the development of safe and effective vaccines against HFMD and other targeted diseases that severely impact our region.”
Read the MPP Press Release here

About hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)

  • While HFMD can affect individuals of all ages, it tends to be more prevalent among young children, particularly those below 5 years of age.6,7
  • It is caused by enteroviruses (a group of intestinal viruses) and spreads easily through direct contact, thriving in environments where children gather. 6
  • Most cases of HFMD are mild and typically resolve on their own, characterized by symptoms such as fever, painful mouth ulcers, and rash with blisters. However, in rare instances, serious complications affecting the nervous system and heart can arise, potentially leading to fatalities. 3,6,7
  • Studies have indicated that approximately 6% of patients showing symptoms need hospitalization, with 19% of these cases experiencing complications and 5% resulting in death. 3
  • Despite the severity of these outcomes, treatment for HFMD is largely nonspecific, 6 with no antiviral medications available. Therefore, vaccination emerges as a promising strategy to mitigate the risk of fatalities associated with the disease. 3
  • 1Medicines Patient Pool. Pioneering Partnerships: The mRNA Technology Transfer Programme Inks Groundbreaking mRNA Vaccine R&D Consortia at Singapore Scientific Colloquium. [2024] Available at: medicinespatentpool.org/news-publications-post/pioneering-partnerships-the-mrna-technology-transfer-programme-inks-groundbreaking-mrna-vaccine-rd-consortia-at-singapore-scientific-colloquium. Accessed Apr 2024.
  • 2Li P, et al. Analysis of HFMD Transmissibility Among the Whole Population and Age Groups in a Large City of China. Front Public Health. 2022;10:850369.
  • 3Koh WM, et al. Severity and burden of hand, foot and mouth disease in Asia: a modelling study. BMJ Glob Health. 2018;3(1):e000442.
  • 4Zhang G, et al. mRNA vaccines in disease prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023;8(1):365.
  • 5Gote V, et al. A Comprehensive Review of mRNA Vaccines. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(3):2700.
  • 6Ministry of Health Singapore. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Available at: moh.gov.sg/diseases-updates/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease. Accessed Apr 2024.
  • 7World Health Organization. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Available at: who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/surveillance/archives/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease. Accessed Apr 2024.