Vaxxas in Global Consortium Awarded Tender by European Union to Develop Next-Generation Influenza Vaccines

Vaxxas, SK biosciences and IDT Biologika (the Consortium) awarded competitive tender, recognising the significant potential of innovative delivery technologies in future global health initiatives.

Up to AU$250M in funding available through the program to advance products through clinical trials to product registration, providing a strategic entry point to the European market to improve vaccine performance and access.

February 26, 2026

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Australian biotechnology pioneer Vaxxas Pty Ltd today announced it has been awarded, as part of a global Consortium alongside SK bioscience and IDT Biologika, a phase one tender by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) on behalf of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) to advance Europe’s preparedness for future seasonal and pandemic influenza threats.

The initiative will accelerate the development of next-generation influenza vaccines under the EU 2024 EU4Health Work Programme with up to A$250 million available across three competitive sequential phases.

In particular, the funding supports vaccines designed to be easier to administer via alternative delivery platforms like Vaxxas’ high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) and rapidly scaled up in emergencies.

The phase one funding of €12.9M (~A$22M) will support the Consortium to advance Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology in combination with SK bioscience’s seasonal influenza vaccine, through a Phase I clinical study. Work will also include pre-clinical development of a “clinic ready” HD-MAP for pre-pandemic influenza.

“The successful tender reflects a shared ambition across the Consortium and the European Union to invest in alternative vaccine delivery technologies that simplify vaccination and enhance preparedness,” said Vaxxas CEO Mr David Peacock. “This tender positions Vaxxas and its Consortium partners at the forefront of global vaccination innovation. We are proud to see our technology recognised by governments worldwide as a critical component of future public health preparedness.”

This European initiative builds on significant momentum for Vaxxas. Supported by the US Government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Vaxxas is currently completing the largest Phase I clinical study of its HD-MAP with a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine, involving more than 250 participants across multiple sites.

Additionally, previously published data shows that an influenza vaccine delivered by Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology can remain stable at 40°C (104°F) for up to 12 months, enabling simplified storage and distribution without continuous refrigeration.

The Consortium submission was led by European-based IDT Biologika, a leader in global contract development and manufacturing of vaccines, gene and immune therapeutics.

“With more than 100 years of experience in vaccine development and manufacturing, IDT Biologika has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of patients and partners worldwide,” said Dr. Sally Choe, Co-CEO of IDT Biologika. “By working with SK bioscience and Vaxxas to advance needle-free patch technology for influenza vaccines, we are helping to develop new vaccination approaches designed to better protect people around the world against seasonal and pandemic influenza.”

SK bioscience, leveraging its proprietary cell culture technology,will supply vaccine antigens for both seasonal (SKYCellflu) and pandemic influenza studies, continuing its longstanding collaboration with Vaxxas.

Jaeyong Ahn, President and CEO of SK bioscience, said, “This project demonstrates how our combined global network and technological capabilities translate into performance. We will continue to actively pursue opportunities for our proprietary vaccines in Europe and strengthen our competitiveness in the global market through innovative delivery platforms.”

Following the successful completion of the first phase, the Consortium will be eligible to tender for subsequent phases, supporting progression into late-stage clinical trials, application for marketing authorisation and the establishment of a sovereign EU manufacturing capability.

The pre-commercial procurement model marks a milestone inthe European Commission’s approach to managing innovation procurement procedures. By promoting novel influenza vaccines, the action aligns with the EU4Health programme’s strategic objective to improve availability, accessibility and affordability of critical medical countermeasures that strengthen health system resilience and preparedness for future cross-border health threats.

All clinical product for phase one will be manufactured using Vaxxas’ proprietary and newly installed aseptic (sterile) automated manufacturing lines from its biomedical facility in Brisbane, Australia.

About Vaxxas

Vaxxas is a biotechnology company pioneering HD-MAP technology forfuture self-administered vaccine delivery. The HD-MAP has been administered to more than 750 participants across clinical trials, demonstrating strong safety, tolerability, and robust immune responses. Preclinical and clinical data indicate the technology has the potential to deliver all major vaccine types positioning HD-MAP as a universal delivery solution. By targeting immune cells just beneath the skin, the HD-MAP has the potential to achieve stronger protection with smaller doses, while reducing cold-chain requirements and enabling self-administration.

Vaxxas’ programs are advancing toward commercialisation with support from global partners including SK bioscience, the US Government, the Welcome Trust, and the Gates Foundation, assessing the potential of HD‑MAP to vaccinate against COVID‑19, seasonal and pre‑pandemic influenza, and measles and rubella. The company recently installed robotic lines for aseptic (sterile) manufacture at its state‑of‑the‑art Brisbane biomedical facilitysupporting scalable, GMP-compliant production for clinical and future commercial supply.


About SK biosciences

SK bioscience is an innovative vaccine and biotech company, committed to vaccine development and manufacturing to enable more equitable access to vaccines around the world. Leveraging strengths on cutting-edge technologies, SK bioscience has been dedicatedto promoting human health from prevention to cure across the globe. With the cooperation of domestic and international governments, regulatory agencies, healthcare providers, doctors, and medical experts, all of the SK colleagues are passionately committed to providing high-quality vaccines to those who need them and better public healthcare solutions.

SK bioscience Website
SK bioscience LinkedIn

About IDT Biologika

IDT Biologika, part of SK bioscience, is a globally operating CDMO specialising in end-to-end development and manufacturing of biologics, biosimilars, and other sterile injectables. With more than 100 years of biopharmaceutical expertise, the Company combines proven know-how with advanced platform technologies to support its partners’ projects.

IDT’s integrated services span the entire product lifecycle – from process development and drug substance manufacturing (cell culture and microbial systems) to clinical and commercial fill-finish, complemented by quality control, analytical testing, and packaging. The company supports protein- and antibody-based biologics and biosimilars, including vaccines, gene and immune therapeutics, oncolytic viruses, and other sterile injectables that help prevent and treat diseases worldwide.

Investigational Use Notice

HD‐MAP‐delivered vaccines are under investigation and are not approved for sale or purchase anywhere in the world. Vaxxas makes no claims regarding reliability, durability, dependability, safety, efficacy, or superiority to any other vaccine or vaccine delivery technology.


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Helen Wallace

We. Communications

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For more information:

European Commission press release
HaDEA (European Health and Digital Executive Agency) press release