Hawaii Biotech has won a three-year, $2.9 million SBIR phase II grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to continue development of a vaccine to protect healthy individuals from Tick-Borne Encephalitis, the company said in a press release.

TBE is most commonly recognized as a neurological disease, but mild febrile forms of illnesses can also occur. Infection of the central nervous system can result in severe neurological symptoms and, in rare cases, death. Long-lasting or permanent neurological damage is a consequence in 10-20 percent of infected patients.

"This support will allow us to complete preclinical development and move forward towards clinical testing of our Tick-Borne Encephalitis vaccine candidate," stated Dr. Elliot Parks, CEO of Hawaii Biotech, Inc.

This brings Hawaii Biotech's current product array to three, including vaccine candidates for dengue virus, West Nile virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis.