BioVaxys Technology Corp. announced that it has further extended its research collaboration with The Ohio State University ("The Ohio State") for SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and pan-sarbecovirus vaccine research. This is the second twelve-month extension of the research collaboration between BioVaxys and the University since 2021.

There are growing concerns about the recently emerging Covid-19 variant EG.5 ("EG.5"). In July 2023, EG.5 became the dominant Covid-19 variant in the United States. Along with the increasing global prevalence of EG.5, the World Health Organization ("WHO") recently classified EG.5 as a "variant of interest," meaning EG.5 is the result of genetic changes, and notably, has one particular mutation that is known to evade some of the immunity from a prior infection or vaccination.

It is a reminder that COVID-19 still poses a risk to public health. Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced Project NextGen, a $5 billion program to accelerate the development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. BioVaxys recently received its System for Award Management (SAM) registration from the US Government, which is the official system for managing the process for receiving and overseeing US Federal grants or financing opportunities.

The collaborating laboratory at The Ohio State University is led by virologist Professor Qiuhong Wang, Bachelor of Medicine (China) and PhD (USA), from the University's Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, & Environmental Sciences. Dr. Wang is also the Director of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Reference Center for Zoonotic Coronaviruses. Dr. Wang's research focus is on coronaviruses and caliciviruses, including diagnosis of viral infections, molecular epidemiology, molecular characterization of new viruses, propagation of enteric viruses in cell culture, molecular mechanisms of cell culture adaptation and attenuation, inter species transmission of viruses between human and animals, and the development of attenuated vaccines using reverse genetics approaches.