£2m funding for vaccines

A BIOTECH company has secured £2 million worth of funding to develop life-saving vaccines.

Big DNA, based in Roslin, has been awarded funding through Scottish Enterprise, as well as private investment from Hong Kong and the Channel Islands.

This will fund clinical trials of a hepatitis B vaccine, which is due to be completed in three years.

The company was recently named "best new life science firm" by Scottish Enterprise at its annual dinner in Edinburgh.

Big DNA's chief executive, Dr John March, said: "Our patented technology has enormous potential importance for public health in the future."

His team are developing a unique process, which uses bacterial viruses to deliver a vaccine.

Louise Provan, of Scottish Enterprise's Scottish Venture Fund said: "This investment demonstrates our confidence in this innovative young company, which we expect to grow and develop into a world leader in vaccine development."