The Access to Advanced Health Institute, a nonprofit biotech organisation focused on developing vaccines and technologies for global health, has congratulated Eli Lilly and Company and Curevo Vaccine on Lilly’s acquisition of Curevo.
Curevo’s lead asset, known as amezosvatein or CRV-101, is a Phase 3-ready subunit vaccine designed to prevent shingles, also known as herpes zoster.
The vaccine incorporates AAHI’s proprietary SLA-SE adjuvant technology, which the nonprofit says represents a meaningful step forward in vaccine development.
Lilly’s decision to acquire Curevo highlights growing recognition of next-generation adjuvants capable of delivering improved tolerability alongside strong immune responses.
“SLA-SE represents a significant advancement in adjuvant technology, designed to elicit robust T-cell immunity with a favorable safety profile,” said Keeley Foley, CEO of AAHI.
Foley added: “We are thrilled that this technology, developed at AAHI, is now positioned to reach people through Lilly’s world-class development and commercial capabilities.”
Despite the acquisition, AAHI retains rights to license and develop the SLA-SE adjuvant for uses outside the shingles vaccine field, preserving the organisation’s ability to pursue broader applications.
Those retained rights include use of the adjuvant in combination with other antigens across a wide range of infectious diseases, cancer vaccines, and additional indications.
AAHI is a Seattle-based nonprofit biotech research institute with a global footprint that includes operations in the United States, England, and South Africa.
The organisation works with partners worldwide with a stated mission of translating high-impact science into affordable, effective, and accessible vaccines that address infectious diseases and improve health equity.
The deal positions amezosvatein as a significant commercial prospect, with Lilly’s scale and infrastructure expected to drive the vaccine’s development toward eventual patients who could benefit from improved shingles prevention.
AAHI’s continued licensing rights signal that the SLA-SE technology may feature in multiple future vaccine programmes, extending its potential impact well beyond the Curevo acquisition.