Projects

Abera has an extensive pipeline of mucosal vaccine projects in preclinical stage.

Our Vaccine Pipeline

Abera Bioscience is building a new generation of mucosal vaccines designed not only to prevent disease, but to block infection and transmission at the point of entry. Powered by a modular OMV platform, our pipeline targets major respiratory and global-health pathogens where intranasal immunity can make the greatest impact.

With a rapidly adaptable design, strong preclinical performance, and a manufacturing approach built for scalability, Abera is advancing multiple vaccine candidates toward clinical development—including a first-in-class, serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine entering Phase 1.

Our programs reflect a clear strategy: vaccines that are safer, needle-free and more effective at stopping pathogens before they spread.

Vaccine Pipeline status

Abera is progressing multiple vaccine candidates built on the same underlying OMV technology, each addressing a distinct pathogen with significant unmet medical need. The programs span both near-term clinical opportunities and earlier exploratory efforts, reflecting a strategic focus on diseases where mucosal immunization can offer meaningful advantages. The overview below summarizes the current status and scientific focus of each project.

Pneumococcal disease remains a major global health challenge, driven by more than 100 circulating serotypes that allow the bacterium to evade traditional polysaccharide-based vaccines. Despite existing vaccines, significant disease burden persists in children, older adults, and risk groups, compounded by rising antibiotic resistance. Abera’s intranasal vaccine candidate, Ab-01.12, takes a fundamentally different approach by targeting conserved protein antigens displayed on OMVs to generate serotype-independent protection. By inducing strong mucosal IgA responses in the nose and lungs alongside systemic IgG, the candidate has the potential to block colonization and thereby reduce transmission—an outcome not achieved by current vaccines. The program is advancing into first-in-human studies in 2026.

Future pandemics demand vaccine platforms that can respond rapidly, scale efficiently, and be manufactured at accessible cost. Many existing technologies offer strong immunogenicity but face challenges in speed, adaptability, or production logistics. Abera’s OMV platform is specifically designed for rapid response: OMV backbones can be produced and stockpiled in advance, and new antigens can be quickly covalently coupled once a sequence is available. Intranasal delivery enables immunity at the pathogen’s entry point, offering the potential to reduce infection and transmission during early outbreak phases. The platform has been validated across multiple preclinical models and is being positioned as a scalable, flexible solution for next-generation pandemic preparedness.

Seasonal and pandemic influenza continue to pose major global health challenges, with millions of infections each year and periodic emergence of highly transmissible or virulent strains. Despite widespread use of current vaccines, effectiveness varies significantly between seasons, largely due to rapid viral mutation and the need to predict circulating strains months in advance. Abera’s intranasal influenza vaccine candidate is designed to address these limitations by presenting HA antigens at high density on OMVs, generating strong mucosal immunity at the site of infection while remaining adaptable to new variants as they arise. Preclinical studies show robust and durable IgA and IgG responses, supporting the potential for both improved protection and reduced transmission. The program is in advanced preclinical development and continues to demonstrate the platform’s capacity for rapid antigen updating in both seasonal and pandemic scenarios.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the limitations of parenteral vaccines in preventing upper respiratory tract infection and onward transmission. Abera’s OMV-based mucosal vaccine candidate aims to address this gap by inducing strong IgA-mediated immunity in the airways, thereby reducing both infection and spread. Coronavirus antigens displayed on OMVs generate robust immune activation while maintaining a fast, scalable production model that can accommodate new variants. The program is currently in preclinical stage and mainly serves as an important demonstration of the platform’s rapid-update and pandemic-response capabilities.

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and protection from the existing BCG vaccine wanes over time and is insufficient in adults. Because TB spreads through aerosol transmission, a mucosal vaccine that strengthens airway immunity is a highly relevant approach. Abera’s early-stage OMV-based TB program is exploring presentation of key antigens in a format that mimics natural pathogen exposure and triggers both mucosal and systemic responses. The platform’s inherent adjuvant properties and intranasal delivery make it a promising approach for next-generation TB vaccination strategies.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide and often progresses silently to severe reproductive complications. No vaccine is currently available. Abera’s approach uses the OMV platform to display chlamydia antigens in a way that elicits strong mucosal and systemic immunity, reflecting the biology of natural infection. This program is in early exploratory development and represents a meaningful application of the platform beyond respiratory pathogens.

Why Mucosal Vaccines?

Most respiratory pathogens enter — and begin to replicate — in the mucosal surfaces of the nose and airways. Traditional injectable vaccines generate strong systemic immunity but often provide limited protection in these tissues, leaving room for infection, viral shedding, and onward transmission.

Mucosal vaccines activate immunity exactly where pathogens first establish themselves, inducing secretory IgA and tissue-resident immune responses that can block colonization early. This frontline protection offers the potential to not only prevent disease, but also reduce community spread — a critical advantage for both seasonal infections and future pandemic threats.

By enabling needle-free, user-friendly administration and supporting rapid immune activation at the site of entry, mucosal vaccines represent a transformative opportunity to improve public health and broaden global vaccine access

Partnering with us

Abera collaborates with organizations that share our ambition to advance next-generation vaccines with meaningful impact on global health. Our modular OMV platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with external innovation — from antigen discovery and preclinical research to clinical development and large-scale manufacturing.

We work with academic groups, industry partners, CDMOs, and global health organizations to accelerate vaccine development across a broad range of pathogens. The platform’s adaptable design, straightforward tech transfer, and compatibility with diverse antigen sources make it well suited for co-development programs and rapid-response initiatives.

For more information about our ongoing projects, research partnerships, and collaboration opportunities, please contact us.

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