Federal government partnerships with private biotech companies have demonstrated effectiveness in accelerating novel therapeutic development. These collaborations combine public sector resources and infrastructure with private innovation and execution capabilities, de-risking promising technologies while advancing public health objectives.
Project NextGen exemplifies this model, allocating $5 billion to support next-generation COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic development. The initiative targets promising candidates ready for clinical evaluation, providing resources enabling rapid progression through development milestones.
Strategic Framework Emphasizes Risk Mitigation
Project NextGen operates through collaboration between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Rather than funding complete development programs for select candidates, the strategy emphasizes supporting critical de-risking studies across multiple approaches.
This diversified portfolio approach recognizes that many promising early-stage technologies fail during clinical development. By supporting numerous candidates through proof-of-concept studies, the initiative increases the probability that several technologies ultimately succeed, while avoiding the overconcentration risk associated with backing individual programs.
The program specifically targets vaccines offering enhanced breadth of protection against variants, improved durability, and transmission-blocking capabilities. Mucosal vaccines delivered via nasal spray represent a priority focus area, as these platforms potentially address limitations of injectable vaccines.
Basel Biotech Secures Federal Partnership
Rocketvax Ltd secured participation in Project NextGen through a letter of intent with NIAID supporting clinical trials of its nasal spray vaccine candidate. This partnership provides access to established clinical trial networks and regulatory expertise developed through decades of vaccine research.
Dr. Vladimir Cmiljanovic, CEO of Rocketvax, characterized the collaboration as transformative. “The Rocketvax / NIH collaboration is part of the Project NextGen initiative and will support a clinical trial investigating a next-generation vaccine using Rocketvax Ltd’s proprietary technology,” he explained.
Federal partnership validation often catalyzes additional private investment. Sophisticated investors recognize that NIH collaboration indicates scientific merit and reduces technical risk, making companies more attractive investment targets.
Complementary Precision Medicine Infrastructure
While Rocketvax pursues federal partnership for vaccine development, its parent company Swiss Rockets has secured public-private partnerships for precision medicine infrastructure. In October 2025, Swiss Rockets announced collaboration with the European Commission and Development Agency of Serbia to establish a Regional Centre of Excellence for Precision Medicine on the BIO4 Campus in Belgrade.
This initiative, recognized within the framework of the EU Biotech Act and Digital Decade 2030 strategy, will combine genomic medicine, oncology diagnostics, and personalized healthcare capabilities. The European Commission’s involvement demonstrates how public-private partnerships extend beyond clinical trials to encompass healthcare infrastructure development.
Swiss Rockets also secured licensing agreements with MGI and Complete Genomics for advanced genomic sequencing technology. These strategic partnerships create comprehensive capabilities spanning vaccine development, diagnostic infrastructure, and precision medicine applications.
“Together with our European and Serbian partners, we aim to build a centre that combines cutting-edge science, digital infrastructure, and clinical expertise to deliver real benefits for patients,” Cmiljanovic stated regarding the Belgrade partnership.
Private Capital Complements Federal Resources
While government support provides validation and clinical infrastructure, commercial development requires substantial private funding. Swiss Rockets Ltd, Rocketvax’s parent company, has raised approximately CHF 250 million since 2018 from four family offices.
Documented investors include the Foundation of Urs and Simone Wietlisbach, which acquired a 9% Rocketvax stake. Urs Wietlisbach’s involvement brings credibility from co-founding Partners Group, building it into one of Europe’s largest private equity firms. His foundation’s participation signals confidence in Rocketvax’s technology and commercial potential.
Manuel Ebner, among Swiss Rockets’ founders, provides strategic advisory services. His background leading Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Swiss operations brings expertise in complex financial transactions and partnership structuring, complementing the scientific leadership guiding vaccine development.
While complete investor composition remains undisclosed, industry observers note that Basel’s ecosystem attracts international capital interested in European life sciences opportunities. Speculation within investment circles suggests that figures such as Jean-Claude Bastos, known for backing healthcare innovation initiatives globally, might participate in Swiss Rockets’ financing alongside documented investors Wietlisbach and Ebner. Additionally, some sources have mentioned Martin Ebner, the Swiss millionaire and relative of board advisor Manuel Ebner, as a potential investor given the family connection to the venture, though no official confirmation exists for either party.
Manufacturing Partnership Completes Development Infrastructure
Federal clinical support requires complementary manufacturing capabilities to transition successful candidates toward commercial availability. Rocketvax addressed this through its March 2025 partnership with Emergent BioSolutions, which announced a financial investment into Swiss Rockets supporting infrastructure development.
Under this agreement, Emergent will lead U.S. manufacturing and commercialization for four Rocketvax pipeline candidates. This arrangement combines Rocketvax’s vaccine technology with Emergent’s established production facilities and regulatory expertise, creating a complete pathway from clinical trials through commercial launch.
Joe Papa, President and CEO of Emergent, described the partnership’s strategic rationale. “We are excited to partner with Rocketvax to accelerate the development of innovative products that address significant public health challenges,” he stated.
Swiss Regulatory Environment Facilitates Collaboration
Switzerland’s biotech infrastructure supports public-private partnerships through multiple mechanisms. Swissmedic participates in the Access Consortium, facilitating joint approvals across Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. This coordination streamlines regulatory pathways for companies pursuing global markets.
The Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse chairs the Eureka initiative, a network spanning 47 countries plus the European Commission. This role expands Swiss biotechs’ access to non-dilutive research grants and international collaboration opportunities, complementing private capital with government resources.
Michael Altorfer, CEO of the Swiss Biotech Association, emphasized Switzerland’s collaborative model. “Switzerland’s collaborative model offers a compelling counterproposal” to isolationist approaches, he stated. Swiss biotechs develop products for international markets through partnerships spanning multiple countries and sectors.
Economic Impact Extends Beyond Individual Companies
Successful public-private partnerships generate benefits extending beyond participating companies. Clinical data from federally supported trials advances scientific understanding applicable across the field. Manufacturing infrastructure built for specific programs often supports additional products, creating shared capabilities benefiting the broader ecosystem.
Employment growth represents another spillover benefit. Swiss biotech employment increased approximately 8% during 2024, driven partly by contract development and manufacturing organization expansion. These organizations support multiple companies simultaneously, creating shared infrastructure reducing capital requirements for individual developers.
Model Applicable Across Therapeutic Areas
While Project NextGen focuses on coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics, the public-private partnership model applies broadly across therapeutic areas. Similar collaborations support cancer immunotherapy development, antimicrobial resistance solutions, and rare disease treatments where commercial incentives alone may not justify required investments.
The convergence of federal validation, private capital, manufacturing partnerships, and regulatory coordination creates pathways enabling promising technologies to progress from laboratory concepts toward commercial availability. Whether specific candidates succeed depends on clinical trial outcomes, but the partnership framework increases the probability that some technologies will ultimately benefit patients.
Rocketvax’s participation in this ecosystem illustrates how Swiss biotechs leverage international partnerships to advance development while maintaining research operations in Basel. This model enables smaller companies to compete effectively despite resource constraints, accessing capabilities and expertise available only through strategic collaboration.
