The “2026 NBRP Demo & Pitch Day,” co-organized by the Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC) of Academia Sinica and the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), successfully concluded on July 13 and 14 at the National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP). The competitive event brought together 24 highly promising biomedical startups, academic research groups, and clinical teams. Ultimately, Papivax Biotech stood out from the competition with its cutting-edge nucleic acid technology platform and compelling clinical trial outcomes, securing the prestigious Grand Prize in the Therapeutics Division (Startup Category). This milestone achievement highlights Papivax Biotech’s robust capabilities in biomedical research and development as well as clinical translation.
Papivax Biotech has long been dedicated to the innovative development of nucleic acid therapeutics and cancer immunotherapies. Its core technology seamlessly integrates optimized nucleic acid sequences with the clinically validated TriGrid® automated electroporation delivery system. Compared to traditional modalities, Papivax Biotech’s DNA vaccine platform demonstrates excellent long-term thermal stability, eliminating the constraints of cold-chain logistics. Furthermore, its manufacturing process is highly scalable, with production costs projected at only one-third of traditional protein-based alternatives, offering a superior commercial and industrial viability advantage.
During the evaluation, Papivax Biotech’s lead candidate, PVX4—designed to target and eliminate high-risk Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN 2/3)—received exceptional recognition from the judging panel. Globally, patients with high-grade CIN 2/3 lesions face a significant unmet medical need with no approved non-invasive therapies. The current standard of care relies heavily on invasive surgical procedures such as LEEP, which carry risks of severe complications, including hemorrhage and preterm birth, along with a 14% recurrence rate. PVX4 offers a breakthrough, non-invasive therapeutic alternative. In its Phase I clinical trial, PVX4 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability across all dosage cohorts, achieving a remarkable 80% (7 out of 9 patients) complete clearance rate of HPV16 infection and high-grade lesions, surpassing the efficacy outcomes of global competitors in Phase III trials.
Currently, Papivax Biotech is actively advancing its multinational, multi-center Phase II clinical trial of PVX4. The trial is recruiting 138 participants across major medical centers in Taiwan and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the United States, with histological regression and HPV16 clearance as the primary efficacy endpoints. Under the academic leadership of co-founders Dr. T.-C. Wu, a world-renowned academician, and Dr. Richard Roden, both distinguished professors, Papivax Biotech is also leveraging its platform technology to develop immunotherapy pipelines for aggressive RAS-mutant malignancies, including pancreatic cancer.
Looking ahead, Papivax Biotech is on track to complete the Phase II clinical study of PVX4, accelerate the development of its RAS-mutant cancer immunotherapies, and scale up CDMO capabilities to support its ongoing IPO preparation. The company is planning a public offering in Taiwan by the second half of 2027. In addition to a cash prize of NT$100,000, winning the NBRP grand prize grants Papivax Biotech professional business and financial consulting from PwC, exhibition space at BIO Asia–Taiwan, and international promotion resources at BIO USA. This honor not only reflects national and industry-level endorsement of Papivax Biotech’s technological maturity but also establishes a solid foundation for the company’s global licensing strategies and expansion into international markets.