Full Press Release Details
Water Vaccines Presents New Data Supporting Universal Influenza Vaccine Candidate at the World Vaccine Congress 2022 in Washington, DC
CINCINNATI, OH, April 21, 2022 - Blue
Water Vaccines Inc. ("BWV" or "Blue Water Vaccines" or "the Company"), a biopharmaceutical company
developing transformational vaccines, today issued the below statement regarding its Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") on April 20, 2022, which included a presentation (the "WVC presentation") delivered by the Company at
the World Vaccine Congress 2022 in Washington, DC. This presentation by Brian Price, Ph.D., BWV's Head of Technology Strategy, shows
identification of H3N2 and influenza B epitopes of limited variability discovered by scientists at The University of Oxford.
The Company previously presented
data surrounding epitopes of limited variability for H1 influenza strains, which are being used to develop BWV-102, an H1 pre-pandemic
vaccine. This latest data included in the WVC presentation uses similar mathematical modeling and research to find two epitopes of limited
variability in H3N2 influenza and one epitope in influenza B. Provisional patents have been recently filed for both H3 and influenza B
antigens by the Company's licensors and will be used in combination with previously identified H1 epitopes to form the basis for
the Company's universal influenza vaccine candidate, BWV-101.
"The large seasonal burden
of influenza warrants the development of improved vaccines," said Joseph Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water Vaccines.
"This data for H3N2 and influenza B epitopes supports our commitment to develop a vaccine that provides broad protection against
all strains and eliminating the need for annual immunization. We are excited to continue our collaboration with The University of Oxford
and move forward with this research supporting one of our lead vaccine candidates."
According to the World Health
Organization, there are more than 1 billion influenza infections each year, 3 - 5 million of which are considered severe, leading
to between 290,000 - 600,000 related respiratory deaths worldwide. Current influenza vaccines have several shortcomings, including
yearly reformulations 6 months prior to influenza season leading to yearly administration and typically provide protection to only 50%
of the individuals that receive the vaccine. Additionally, the CDC estimates about $87.1 billion USD is lost through absenteeism and healthcare
costs in the US and the WHO estimates around $4 billion US is spent on the flu vaccine each year. Both the clinical toll of this disease
and the economic burden it poses warrants investigation and commitment to the development of a universal influenza vaccine.
On April 20, 2022, BWV filed the
BWV presentation on a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") ("Current Report").
Please refer to the Current Report for more details about the new data discussed therein. A copy of the Current Report is available on
the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
About Blue Water Vaccines
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing transformational vaccines to address significant health challenges globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, the company holds
the rights to proprietary technology developed at the University of Oxford, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), and
St. Jude Children's Hospital. The company is developing a universal flu vaccine that will provide protection from all virulent strains
in addition to licensing a novel norovirus (NoV) S&P nanoparticle versatile virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine platform from CCHMC
to develop vaccines for multiple infectious diseases, including norovirus/rotavirus and malaria, among others. Additionally, Blue Water
Vaccines is developing a Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) vaccine candidate, designed to specifically prevent the highly infectious
middle ear infections, known as Acute Otitis Media (AOM), in children. For more information, visit www.bluewatervaccines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking
words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimate," "expect," and
"intend," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on BWV's current expectations and actual results
could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the development of BWV's vaccine candidates,
including, but not limited to BWV-301; the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; delays
and uncertainties caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product
candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third
party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As
with any vaccine under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products.
BWV does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth
in BWV's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021 and other reports filed with the SEC on or after the
date thereof. All of BWV's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements.
The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof.
Contact Information:
Email: media@bluewatervaccines.com