Developing a new class of GI vaccines

Imagine a world where a single vaccine can protect children against both rotavirus and norovirus - the leading cause of severe viral gastroenteritis in kids

At GIVAX, we're making this vision a reality. Using our groundbreaking platform technology, we're developing a new class of GI vaccines that could revolutionize the way we protect against GI pathogens. 

About Us

Norovirus is a Severe & Highly Contagious Disease Especially for Children

Highly Disruptive

  • Norovirus causes severe diarrhea, nausea & vomiting, malaise, muscle pains and headaches

  • Outbreaks occur frequently in schools, daycares, long-term care facilities, cruise ships & military operations

  • With a 50% infection probability, it remains one of the most infectious GI pathogens globally¹

High Burden of Disease

  • Norovirus causes illness in 450 million children & 80 million older adults annually²

  • Norovirus has replaced rotavirus as the most significant GI viral pathogen in children within high-income countries³

  • The virus leads to 95,000 deaths annually in children and 80,000 deaths in older adults worldwide²

  • The global economic burden of norovirus is estimated to be $60 billion annually²

The Current Numbers

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million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually 4

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million cases in children under 5 years 4

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Thousand child deaths, mostly in developing countries 4

GIVAX Vaccine Platform is Based on the Use of Rotavirus as Vector

Academic founder recently discovered how to manipulate the rotavirus genome, allowing GIVAX to turn existing oral rotavirus vaccines into vectors which can express exogenous vaccine antigens

GIVAX is Transforming The Existing Rotavirus Vaccines into a Platform For Safe & Effective GI Vaccines

A Novel Oral Replicating Rotavirus Vector

  • Established Safety Profile
    Pediatric vector based on licensed vaccines; adult vector has demonstrated clinical safety

  • Drives Activation of Mucosal Immunity
    Demonstrated ability to induce de-novo mucosal immunity in the GI tract, key for naive pediatric population

  • Flexible Platform
    Easy to update antigen composition to match circulating strains without changing manufacturing processes

Acting as a Platform for High-Value GI Vaccines

  • Dual Rotavirus/Norovirus Vaccine for Pediatrics
    A combined approach targeting both rotavirus and norovirus for children.

  • Norovirus Vaccine for Adults
    Focused on providing protection for adults against norovirus.

  • Potential for Other GI Vaccines
    Offers the capability to develop vaccines for other gastrointestinal pathogens, such as Clostridioides difficile (C. Diff).

Latest News

1.7.2025  |  The New York Times

America Needs a Norovirus Vaccine, Now

By Alexandra Sifferlin

11.19.2022  |  PubMed

The Challenges & Opportunities of Next-Generation Rotavirus Vaccines: 2022 2nd Generation Rotavirus Vaccine Developers Meeting

By Jessie Chen, Stephanie Grow, Miren Iturriza-Gómara, William P Hausdorff, Alan Fix, Carl D Kirkwood

4.11.2022  |  Inside Indiana Business

GIVAX Partners with Indiana University

By Mary Roberts