(TheNewswire)

WINNIPEG,  February 27, 2025 — TheNewswire - Cytophage Technologies Inc. (“Cytophage” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CYTO, FSE: 70G) today announced the development of a new phage-based vaccine for avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu.

Avian influenza is one of the world’s most pressing biosecurity threats. With no approved H5N1 vaccine currently available in Canada for use in poultry, Cytophage is advancing a scalable, cost-effective, and adaptable solution with broad potential applications. The breakthrough comes at a critical time amid rising consumer concern over the price of poultry, eggs, and related products.

Based on Cytophage’s innovative phage technology, two vaccine candidates are now entering the preclinical validation stage. A pilot study will evaluate both candidates, developed by Cytophage’s Vaccine R&D Unit. The vaccines use distinct antigen presentation strategies to enhance immune response and cross-strain protection, and this initial study will assess efficacy, immunogenicity, and optimal dosing in small animal models.

Cytophage’s vaccine candidates use filamentous bacteriophages to display influenza antigens, triggering an immune response without requiring traditional egg-based production or costly mRNA synthesis. Unlike vaccines that have been conditionally approved in some markets, Cytophage’s product would allow for rapid manufacturing at scale—up to hundreds of millions of doses per month.

“We need a proactive, scalable vaccine solution that can keep pace with rapidly evolving threats,” said Dr. Steven Theriault, CEO of Cytophage. “Our phage-based platform represents a paradigm shift in influenza vaccine development, combining rapid production, enhanced stability, and cross-strain adaptability to provide a faster, more effective response.”

Global Public Health Impacts

“Traditional vaccine models take too long to respond to emerging influenza threats,” added Natasha Theriault, Project Lead of the Vaccines Unit at Cytophage. “Our approach allows us to design and deploy targeted vaccines at unprecedented speed—without sacrificing safety or efficacy. This cost-effective technology could be a game-changer for both the poultry industry and global public health.”

To ensure an expedient and streamlined process in moving the potential vaccine candidates toward clinical trials, Cytophage is already seeking funding sources, evaluating potential biosecure testing partners and preparing to engage with regulators.

The Company anticipates the announcement of a laboratory testing partner in spring 2025, with results from the pilot study published in the subsequent quarter.

If successful, Cytophage’s phage-based vaccine platform could play a crucial role in pandemic preparedness, offering a fast, cost-effective, and adaptable alternative to existing vaccine technologies.

The H5N1 virus has devastated global poultry populations, resulting in the culling of over 11.6 million chickens in Canada and more than 134 million in the United States. The virus has also been detected in dairy cattle and has crossed into human infections, raising concerns about its potential to evolve into a pandemic strain. Despite these risks, existing vaccines struggle with long production times and antigenic variability, limiting their effectiveness against emerging H5N1 strains.

About Cytophage

Cytophage Technologies (TSXV:CYTO / FSE: 70G) is a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to bacteriophage research, product development and commercialization.

Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect and kill bacteria. These natural killers of bacteria can overcome cellular or organism-level defences. They are nature’s version of antibiotics.

Cytophage is improving bacteria’s natural predators with environmental as well as genetic modifications to bring safe and toxin free killer solutions to large addressable markets with an initial focus on animal health which offers a fast-track to near-term revenue. As a leading bacteriophage manufacturer in Canada and powered by a large library of strains, Cytophage is committed to addressing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance (AMR). The WHO predicts that AMR will be the leading cause of human mortality by 2050. Many countries have already banned or limited preventative antibiotic use in animal production including 27 EU countries, US, Canada, Brazil, Bangladesh, India and Mexico. In addition to that, consumers all over the world are demanding organic and antibiotic-free products.

Cytophage is using a de-risked and patented technology to advance innovative and cost competitive products that harness the power of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections affecting human health, animal health, and food security.

For more information on Cytophage Technologies and its innovative work in bacteriophage therapy, please visit www.cytophage.com .

For further information please contact:

Heather Medwick, Chief Operating Officer
heather@cytophage.com | 431 388 8873

For media inquiries, please contact:
Simon Bredin, PR Advisor ( media@cytophage.com )

Cytophage Investor Alerts: https://cytophage.com/subscribe/

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Cytophage to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cytophage’s Filing Statement dated January 30, 2024, which is available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include but are not limited to, the risks associated with the bacteriophage industry, such as operational risks in development or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of extensive regulatory approval requirements, government regulations, protection of intellectual property, product liability and rapid technological advancements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release, and Cytophage disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management’s estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.