US-based POP Biotechnologies Inc has announced that the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is to provide up to $9.7 million in additional funding to help advance the company’s SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particle) protein vaccine platform into a Phase 1 clinical trial. The deal builds on an initial $1.5 million investment from CEPI announced in July 2025, which supported early-stage research into the technology.
The SNAP platform is designed to accelerate development of nanoparticle-based vaccine candidates while also streamlining purification of the antigens used in them. It employs a histidine tag attached to vaccine antigens (using a process commonly used in protein purification) to embed the antigens into proprietary liposomes that incorporate a cobalt porphyrin phospholipid (CoPoP) moiety. This results in liposomes that resemble virus particles, driving a more complete immune response, the company says.
POP Biotechnologies says that, compared with traditional approaches, the design of SNAP not only enhances antigen presentation to the immune system but allows for rapid removal of potential contaminants from vaccine antigens in as little as 30 minutes. Consequently, antigens from a disease-causing pathogen can be quickly incorporated into the vaccine platform, accelerating development and deployment. The technology’s simplified purification process, involving fewer and less complex stages, is also expected to boost manufacturing efficiency. This will lead to higher antigen yields, potentially extending vaccine supplies and enabling wider vaccination, the company says.
The new funding from CEPI will support the continued development and early clinical testing of a SNAP-based vaccine candidate targeting H5N1 avian influenza. This virus has spread widely among birds and is increasingly infecting mammals, raising concerns about its potential for a pandemic.
CEPI’s executive director of vaccine R&D, Kent Kester, said that faster development of purified vaccine constructs could help contain rapidly spreading viral threats more speedily, in line with CEPI’s 100 Days Mission. “By validating the platform against H5N1, we’ll be able to see how SNAP could also be rapidly adapted to respond to other epidemic and pandemic threats, including a Disease X,” he added.
Ebola funding
Separately, the EU has announced €16.5 million to support measures to address the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. This is in addition to €15 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for Ebola announced in 2025. The new funding includes €6.5 million to strengthen the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, to help equip frontline teams, train healthcare workers and improve disease surveillance; €5 million to the World Health Organization to strengthen surveillance and access to supplies; and an in-kind contribution of €5 million worth of testing equipment to be deployed rapidly wherever it is most needed.