CEPI funds next phase of nanoparticle vaccine platform to support rapid outbreak response

3 June 2026; OSLO; BUFFALO. New funding will support the continued development of a pioneering vaccine platform that uses protein-tagging technology in nanoparticles to help speed up the development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats, including H5N1 avian influenza and a future Disease X. The technology could also support more potent and targeted vaccine delivery and help boost immune responses.

CEPI will provide up to US $9.7 million in additional funding to US-based POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO) to advance its SNAP™ (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) protein vaccine platform into a Phase 1 clinical trial. This builds on an initial US $1.5 million CEPI investmentannounced in July 2025, which supported early-stage research into the technology.

POP BIO’s SNAP platform has been designed to speed up the development of nanoparticle-based vaccine candidates while also streamlining the purification of the antigens used in them. The new funding will now support the continued development and early clinical testing of a SNAP-based vaccine candidate targeting H5N1 avian influenza — a virus that has spread widely in birds and increasingly infected mammals, raising concerns about its pandemic potential. 

“Antigens added to vaccine formulations have to be purified to ensure safety, efficacy and consistency. Conventional purification methods can be costly and complex, typically lasting several days,” said Kent Kester, Executive Director of Vaccine R&D at CEPI. “As every day counts during an outbreak, faster development of purified vaccine constructs could help more quickly contain a fast-spreading viral threat, in line with the 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.”

Through an innovative approach, the SNAP proprietary technology uses a small protein tag attached to vaccine antigens — a purification technique commonly used in protein research — which is also used to embed them into small, spherical lipid particles known as liposomes, helping stimulate and enhance immune responses. Compared to traditional approaches, this design improves how antigens are presented to the immune system, helping generate stronger and more focused immune responses. Crucially, the enhanced technique could rapidly remove potential contaminants from vaccine antigens in as little as 30 minutes.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with CEPI in order to translate the SNAP technology for a H5N1 protein nanoparticle vaccine. This project will represent a big step forward for our company.” says POP BIO co-founder Jonathan Lovell. 

SNAP’s versatile plug-and-play design could also be beneficial in an outbreak, as antigens from a disease-causing pathogen can be easily and quickly “plugged” into the vaccine platform for faster development and deployment. With fewer, less complex stages involved in its purification process, the technology is expected to improve manufacturing efficiency compared to traditional protein vaccine approaches, producing higher antigen yields that help extend available vaccine supplies and allow more people to be vaccinated.

This investment supports CEPI’s 100 Days Mission — a global effort to develop vaccines against a new pandemic threat within 100 days of its identification — by advancing platform technologies designed for speed and adaptability. It also aligns with CEPI’s 3.0 Strategy, which places greater emphasis on enabling rapid-response vaccine platforms that can be deployed quickly and equitably in future outbreaks.

CEPI and POP BIO are committed to enabling equitable access to the outputs of their partnership, in line with CEPI’s Equitable Access Policy. Project results, including related data, will be published open access for the benefit of the global scientific community.

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Notes to editors 

About POP Biotechnologies

POP Biotechnologies, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics and vaccines based on its proprietary porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome technology. The PoP platform, exclusively licensed from the State University of New York Research Foundation (SUNY-RF), was invented by co-founder Dr. Jonathan Lovell at SUNY Buffalo. POP Biotechnologies operates from the SUNY Buffalo incubator at Baird Research Park.

About POP BIO’s SNAP™ Technology

POP BIO’s SNAP™ (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) enables the rapid development of potent particle-based vaccines by leveraging a cobalt-modified PoP liposome system (CoPoP). This platform allows for stable, spontaneous liposome display of protein and peptide antigens, substantially enhancing immunogenicity. POP BIO’s SNAP™ demonstrated favorable safety and immunogenicity profiles in Phase 3 trials of the EuCorVac-19 COVID-19 vaccine.

About CEPI 

CEPI is a global partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating plan is the ‘100 Days Mission’ - the goal to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines against new threats in just 100 days. CEPI is seeking $2.5 billion to execute CEPI 3.0, its 2027-2031 strategy, which will systematically reduce the likelihood, impact and cost of epidemics and pandemics by driving the 100 Days Mission towards an operational reality. Learn more at CEPI.net.