The NIH/NIAID awarded up to $40 million in non‑dilutive funding to Vitalex Biosciences and the Lundquist Institute to advance VXV‑01, a second‑generation dual‑antigen fungal vaccine targeting Candida species and select Gram‑negative bacteria, into Phase I trials. The contract covers manufacturing and trial preparations for two Phase I studies and supports Vitalex’s option to license the technology from TLI. VXV‑01 aims to address invasive, hospital‑associated Candida infections, including Candida auris, where resistance and limited therapeutic options pose growing threats to immunocompromised patients. Program leadership called the contract pivotal for moving the candidate into humans.