Turn Therapeutics Intranasal Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates Extended Stability

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Turn Therapeutics today announced promising stability data for its intranasal vaccine candidate, marking a significant step toward potentially reducing dependency on ultra-cold vaccine storage. The live, lipid-enveloped vaccine demonstrated 14 days of viability at ambient temperature and 28 days under standard refrigeration.

The vaccine candidate's formulation employs the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's rVSV-MARV vector, suspended in Turn's proprietary oil-based delivery system, PermaFusion.

"What began as a moonshot feels as if it's becoming a reality," said Bradley Burnam, CEO of Turn Therapeutics and creator of PermaFusion. "There was no precedent or published data to suggest a lipid-enveloped vaccine would survive even the first round of mixing into an oil carrier -- let alone remain fully recoverable after 14 days at room temperature and 28 days refrigerated. It's uncharted territory for live vaccine storage and distribution."

The oil-suspended vaccine was successfully recovered at 10⁻⁷ dilutions after 14 days at ambient temperature and 28 days under refrigeration, with zero drop-off in refrigerated samples -- suggesting potential for longer refrigerated storage. This performance exceeded internal benchmarks.

Turn intends to commence further stability studies in 2025 to evaluate extended time points, including 60, 90, and 180 days. The company also plans to initiate exploratory, in vivo immunogenicity studies later this year to evaluate mucosal and systemic immune responses to the current candidate formulation.

The intranasal candidate is believed to be the first live, lipid-enveloped vaccine to demonstrate stability in an oil-based delivery platform. If further studies confirm safety and continued viability, this approach may inform future strategies for improving vaccine storage and distribution across biosecurity, emergency preparedness, outbreak response, and routine immunization campaigns.

"Improving access has always been a core value at Turn," Burnam added. "A thermostable, intranasal vaccine -- if successful -- could eliminate the need for -80°C freezer storage and clinical administration, potentially enabling critical medicines to reach remote, conflict-affected, or underserved regions."

For more information or to request an interview with Turn Therapeutics CEO Bradley Burnam, please contact Ellie Pickel at [phone] or [e-mail].

About Turn Therapeutics

Turn Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical and medical device organization specializing in the development of advanced wound, dermatology, and infectious disease solutions. Utilizing its proprietary technology and patient-first approach, Turn Therapeutics addresses critical needs in healthcare, aiming to improve access, outcomes, and quality of life. Visit turntherapeutics.com to learn more about the company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the future development, regulatory approval, and potential clinical or commercial success of the products described herein. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that may affect future results include, but are not limited to, the success and timing of clinical trials, interactions with regulatory authorities, manufacturing and supply challenges, and the ability to demonstrate safety and efficacy in the intended indications. Turn Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Exploratory immunogenicity studies referenced herein are being conducted in animal models and are intended to inform future development. The results of these early-stage studies are not expected to be material to the company's operations or determinative of program advancement, as further evaluation of dosing, delivery volume, and cross-species immune response will be required.