Evaxion’s EVX-V1 vaccine candidate uses an AI-driven, multi-antigen approach to target cytomegalovirus (CMV) — a leading cause of congenital hearing loss and disability in newborns for which no approved vaccine yet exists.
Evaxion A/S will present new preclinical data for its cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate, EVX-V1, at the International Herpesvirus Workshop (IHW) 2026, taking place July 11–15 in Montreal, Canada. The data, to be shared during a poster session on July 12, are expected to guide final antigen selection as the program advances.
For audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals, the development carries direct clinical relevance: CMV is among the leading infectious causes of congenital hearing loss, and no vaccine has received regulatory approval despite decades of research.
A Multi-Targeted Vaccine Strategy Powered by AI
EVX-V1 is a next-generation, multi-component vaccine candidate that combines novel AI-discovered antigens with AI-optimized versions of established CMV vaccine antigens. Developed using Evaxion’s proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform, the candidate is designed to attack the virus from multiple, complementary angles — an approach the company says is expected to strengthen the vaccine’s protective potential.
Central to the candidate is an AI-optimized pre-fusion glycoprotein B (gB) antigen, which the company reports has demonstrated superior CMV neutralization compared to the traditional gB antigen. The platform has also uncovered novel CMV antigens previously unexplored in vaccine research, which in cellular and animal models have been shown to induce specific immune responses, inhibit viral infection, and reduce cell-to-cell spread.
The poster session abstract is titled “AI-driven multi-antigen vaccine design to address cytomegalovirus infection, latency, and immune evasion,” and will be presented by Gry Persson, senior project manager at Evaxion.
The Hearing Health Stakes of CMV
The urgency of a CMV vaccine is well established within the hearing healthcare field. Approximately 1 in 200 babies is born with congenital CMV infection, and about 1 in 5 of those infants will experience congenital disabilities or long-term health problems — including intellectual disability and loss of vision and hearing. The Hearing Review has previously reported on the growing push for universal congenital CMV (cCMV) newborn screening and the importance of early identification to mitigate long-term auditory outcomes.
CMV infects approximately 60% to 70% of adults in developed countries and nearly 100% in developing economies. The global CMV treatment market was valued at $474.6 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% through 2032, driven by increasing prevalence and the development of new therapies.
In addition to congenital risks, people with weakened immune systems — including organ transplant patients — can develop severe CMV-related symptoms affecting the eyes, lungs, and liver.
Presentation Details
- Abstract title: AI-driven multi-antigen vaccine design to address cytomegalovirus infection, latency, and immune evasion
- Poster #: P2.63
- Session: Poster Session 01
- Location: Mont-Royal I/II, Centre Mont-Royal, Montreal, Canada
- Date/Time: July 12, 2026, 9:30–11:30 am ET
- Presenter: Gry Persson, senior project manager, Evaxion
Evaxion is a clinical-stage TechBio company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a pipeline spanning personalized and off-the-shelf cancer vaccine candidates as well as prophylactic vaccine candidates for infectious diseases.
