i-Seq Biotechnology

Startup

i-Seq Biotechnology, Inc. was formed in 2024 to advance novel, broad-spectrum, vaccines and therapeutics against infectious disease pathogens impacting human health globally. Currently licensed vaccines to safely and effectively prevent human infections are limited and typically of narrow spectrum. To overcome these obstacles, our team of scientists have capitalized upon the power of CRISPR interference screening to assess genome-wide gene fitness and identify new vaccine antigens and therapeutic targets.

Using this technique, we have identified a novel vaccine candidate to protect against infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal infections are among the gravest burdens on global health with up to a million annual deaths per year. Current vaccines target the capsule surrounding the bacteria which vary substantially among the more than 100 serotypes impacting humans. Consequently, current vaccines only target a subset of pneumococcal strains. We identified a protein antigen that is highly conserved among S. pneumoniae serotypes and has demonstrated broad spectrum efficacy. Following ongoing preclinical tests, we endeavor to develop this candidate into a “universal” vaccine that protects against all S. pneumoniae serotypes. i-Seq is exploring partnering with organizations to further develop its lead asset as well as apply its unique discovery platform to identify new interventions.