Immune Targeting Systems (ITS), a developer of vaccines for mutating viruses such as flu, has raised £8.65 million for initial clinical trials.

Immune Targeting Systems (ITS), a developer of vaccines for mutating viruses such as flu, has raised £8.65 million for initial clinical trials.

The London-based company raised the money from the London Technology Fund, Sweden-based HealthCap, Swiss investor Novartis Venture Fund and French backer Truffle Capital.

David McMeekin, chairman of the London Technology Fund, says ITS’ technology should have ‘worldwide impact’. The company, which raised £4.5 million in 2007, is developing synthetic vaccines for the treatment of life-threatening viral infections such as pandemic flu, hepatitis B and C, HIV and cancers.

The company intends to offer governments the option of stockpiling vaccines which can be used as a first line of defence while specific vaccines are manufactured.