The RNA Platform is proud to announce BoViDx as its third Flagship programme — marking a major step forward in extending RNA technology into animal health in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Flagship projects represent the Platform’s most ambitious, end-to-end programmes. They are designed to demonstrate how RNA science can move from early discovery through to real-world application. With BoViDx, that capability now expands beyond human health and into the agricultural sector.
From Fast Start to Flagship
BoViDx is not starting from scratch.
The programme began as a Fast Start project in 2024, where the team successfully demonstrated proof of concept for an RNA-based vaccine targeting bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). That early work showed that mRNA-LNP vaccination could generate strong immune responses in cattle, alongside an acceptable safety profile .
Those results provided the confidence to take the next step.
Now, as a Flagship programme, BoViDx moves into a more advanced phase — focused on optimisation, scalability, and regulatory readiness.
The aim
The BoViDx Flagship has a clear and practical goal:
To develop a regulatory-approved, scalable, and cost-effective mRNA vaccine for BVDV in New Zealand cattle.
This means designing a vaccine that is not only scientifically effective, but also feasible to manufacture, deploy, and adopt within the realities of the veterinary sector.
Why this matters
BVD remains one of the most economically significant diseases affecting New Zealand cattle, with impacts across productivity, animal welfare, and farm profitability.
While current control measures exist, there is an opportunity to improve how vaccines are designed and delivered — particularly by tailoring them to New Zealand strains and making them more adaptable and scalable.
RNA technology offers that opportunity.
Rather than relying on traditional vaccine production methods, RNA vaccines allow rapid design updates, cell-free manufacturing, and precise control over immune responses. These features are particularly valuable in agricultural settings, where cost, stability, and responsiveness are critical.
What happens next
Phase 1 of the BoViDx Flagship focuses on technology optimisation and candidate selection over an 18-month programme (May 2026 – November 2027).
This phase brings together the Platform’s capabilities across RNA design, formulation, and in vivo testing to identify a lead vaccine candidate ready for regulatory progression.
Key milestones include:
- Optimising RNA sequence and formulation for performance, stability, and cost
- Achieving high protective efficacy, demonstrating safety consistent with regulatory requirements for food-producing animals
- Selecting a lead RNA/LNP candidate supported by in vitro and in vivo data
- Establishing a regulatory pathway for veterinary RNA vaccines in New Zealand
These milestones are supported by structured decision points, ensuring the programme remains focused, evidence-driven, and aligned with downstream regulatory requirements.
A platform milestone
BoViDx represents an important milestone for the RNA Platform itself.
Benefit to the Platform
This programme validates the Platform’s end-to-end capability, demonstrating that New Zealand can design, produce, and evaluate RNA vaccines within an integrated national system.
Importantly, BoViDx establishes the foundation for a veterinary RNA vaccine framework in New Zealand — a first for the country. This opens the door to future applications across animal health, biosecurity, and food production.
Working across the system
The BoViDx Flagship is led by the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI)Maiangi Taiao in partnership with the RNA Platform, combining expertise in RNA design, lipid nanoparticle formulation, and bovine immunology.
The programme also integrates insights from New Zealand-specific viral data, ensuring that vaccine design reflects local strain diversity and real-world conditions.
This collaborative model is central to how the Platform operates — bringing together the right capabilities to solve complex, applied challenges.
Looking ahead
With BoViDx now confirmed as the third Flagship, the RNA Platform continues to build a diverse portfolio spanning human and animal health.
Each Flagship strengthens national capability, while contributing to a broader goal: ensuring New Zealand is better prepared for future biological challenges. BoViDx is a clear example of that vision in action — translating early scientific success into a pathway toward real-world impact for one of the country’s most important industries.
