Osivax and GC Biopharma announced a long-term collaboration to develop and commercialize a next-generation seasonal influenza vaccine candidate designed to provide broader and more durable protection against a wide range of influenza strains.

Under the collaboration agreement, the companies are set to develop a combination of Ovx836, Osivax's broad-spectrum influenza A vaccine candidate targeting the highly conserved nucleoprotein, with Gc flu, GC Biopharma's standard-dose, WHO-prequalified, inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine, in a single injection.¹ The combination is expected to leverage complementary immune mechanisms to provide higher and broader protection against circulating and emerging influenza strains, pairing two distinct modes of immune defense in one shot.¹

"Flu remains a significant public health challenge — even in a vaccinated population, we still see significant morbidity and mortality associated with flu every year. And that's because current vaccines simply don't provide the breadth and durability of protection that we need,” Sylvia Taylor, executive vice president of corporate affairs, head of Novavax Sweden told Pharmaceutical Executive in a Q&A conversation.

How would the combination vaccine work?

Ovx836 is designed to induce T-cell responses against the highly conserved nucleoprotein antigen, while Gc flu provides antibody responses against the well-known Hemagglutinin surface antigen. Current seasonal influenza vaccines primarily target surface antigens that can vary substantially from season to season, limiting their durability as strains evolve.¹ Ovx836 is designed to target the nucleoprotein instead, a more conserved internal influenza A antigen, with the aim of broadening protection across influenza A strains regardless of surface mutations. Osivax has previously reported that co-administration of Ovx836 with a seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine was well tolerated and induced complementary immune responses, supporting further development of combination approaches like the one announced today.¹

What are the terms of the agreement?

The agreement grants Osivax a non-exclusive, sublicensable, global license, excluding Japan and Korea, to use Gc flu in combination with Ovx836. Osivax will lead the global development strategy for the combination vaccine candidate and will be responsible for its development and commercialization outside the Republic of Korea, where GC Biopharma will retain exclusive rights.¹ GC Biopharma is expected to receive royalties and ensure long-term supply of Gc flu.¹ Additional details and financial terms have not been disclosed.

"Despite decades of progress in influenza vaccination, there remains a significant need for approaches that can provide broader and more durable protection against evolving influenza strains," said Alexandre Le Vert, chief executive officer and co-founder of Osivax. "This agreement marks a key step towards developing a superior seasonal influenza vaccine by combining Osivax's T-cell-focused approach with GC Biopharma's established Gc flu vaccine and manufacturing capabilities. This partnership is a cornerstone of our strategy to lead the development of a next-generation seasonal influenza vaccine while preserving Osivax's strategic independence."

What is the track record behind Ovx836?

Ovx836-002, was a Phase IIA, randomized, double-blind, reference-controlled trial conducted at a single site, the Centre for Vaccinology in Ghent, Belgium, enrolling 300 healthy adults aged 18 to 65.² Participants were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single intramuscular dose of Ovx836, or a licensed quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine, The trial's primary outcome measured the nucleoprotein-specific IFNγ T-cell response by Elispot at day 8 versus baseline, while secondary outcomes tracked local and systemic reactogenicity, unsolicited and serious adverse events, influenza-like-illness cases, and antibody and T-cell responses through day 180.² The study began in December 2019 and completed in September 2020, with Osivax as sponsor and University Ghent as a collaborator, and results were later published in Frontiers in Immunology in April 2022.²

"Advancing next-generation influenza vaccines requires collaboration between companies with complementary expertise across various scientific disciplines," said Eun-Chul Huh, chief executive officer of GC Biopharma. "We are pleased to partner with Osivax to develop a combination vaccine candidate designed to address long-standing unmet needs in seasonal influenza prevention. This agreement supports GC Biopharma's continued expansion into major advanced markets while reinforcing our domestic position."

Sources

1. Osivax and GC Biopharma Enter Strategic Collaboration to Develop a Next-Generation Influenza Vaccine Combining OVX836 and GC FLU Osivax August 27, 2026, https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/27/3351791/0/en/osivax-and-gc-biopharma-enter-strategic-collaboration-to-develop-a-next-generation-influenza-vaccine-combining-ovx836-and-gc-flu.html
2. Safety and Immune Response of One Dose of OVX836 at Two Dose Levels, in Comparison to Influvac TetraTM, After Intramuscular Administration in Healthy Subjects Aged 18-65 Years National Library of Medicine September 22, 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04192500