Frontier IP PLC on Friday said portfolio company The Vaccine Group has successfully completed a project to develop a vaccine candidate against Streptococcus suis.

Frontier IP is London-based intellectual property commercialisation company. Frontier IP holds a 17% equity stake in The Vaccine Group.

Streptococcus suis is a bacterial disease that reduces pig farming productivity. It is endemic in the global pig population, estimated at 780 million strong. It is the most common cause of systemic disease in nursery piglets, according to the Pork Information Gateway.

The disease is currently treated with antibiotics, but there is growing evidence the disease is becoming resistant. Effective vaccines remove the need for antibiotics.

The project was backed by both the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the Chinese Ministry of Science & Technology.

The project was a collaboration with two Chinese academic institutions and a commercial partner, Pulike Biological Engineering Co, based in Henan, China. Pulike has begun preparation to make the vaccine candidate at pilot scale to support further clinical development.

Chief Executive Officer Neil Crabb said: ‘We are very pleased with the progress made by TVG and its herpesvirus-based vaccine technology - this project shows it has the potential to combat bacteria as well as viruses. We are looking forward to results of further developments of the Company’s other animal vaccine projects for Lassa fever, African Swine Fever, and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, and a Covid-19 vaccine for use in humans.’

Shares in Frontier IP were trading 0.4% lower at 82.68 pence each on Friday morning.

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