Rokote Laboratories Finland Ltd. has received 9 million euros of funding for the development of a coronavirus vaccine to be administered as a nasal spray.

Ferring Ventures SA, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, and the Finnish Cultural Foundation have made a capital investment of 3.5 million euros in Rokote Laboratories Finland. Besides that, Business Finland supported the company by granting a 5.5-million loan. The COVID-19 vaccine is based on research carried out at the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland. It uses transfer technology developed by the research group of Academy Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala and has already been tested in clinical trials using gene therapy to treat cardiovascular diseases and cancer.What’s notable in the easily modifiable vaccine developed by Rokote Laboratories Finland is its potential ability to respond to the virus variants. “The work carried out by Rokote Laboratories Finland Ltd. will make the use of a novel vaccine technology established here in Finland. This technology will also make us better prepared for possible future pandemics,” says Professor of Virology Kalle Saksela.

Health Capital Helsinki