UNIVERSAL NASAL VACCINE PLATFORM FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
FINVAC Vaccine Technology
A new generation of intranasal vaccines
Rokote Laboratories’ FINVAC platform is designed as a universal intranasal vaccine technology that can be rapidly adapted to protect against multiple pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, tuberculosis, and more. Unlike traditional intramuscular vaccines, FINVAC targets the nasal mucosa, the body’s primary entry point for many respiratory viruses, activating both local mucosal (IgA) and systemic (IgG) immune responses.
The first vaccine developed using this platform, FINVAC COVID-19, is a nasal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and is preparing to enter its second clinical trial.
Why intranasal vaccination matters
Intramuscular vaccines often fail to block infection or transmission because they induce weak mucosal immunity and require frequent boosters. FINVAC nasal vaccines overcome these limitations by generating strong nasal IgA responses, neutralizing viruses at the site of entry to help prevent infection, replication, and transmission.
Key features of the FINVAC platform
- Rapid adaptability: A novel adenoviral vector backbone enables quick updates to address emerging variants and future infectious threats.
- Scalable production: Manufactured using a proprietary suspension cell line optimized for RCA-free, high-yield, and rapid adenoviral vector production.
- Enhanced formulation: A highly immunogenic vaccine buffer currently in clinical development.
- Easy administration: Simple nasal delivery promotes high compliance and supports self-administration, thus ideal for mass vaccination and low-resource settings.
Pipeline
The FINVAC platform will be initially validated with our lead nasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, demonstrating its potential as a universal technology for mucosal immunization.
Clinical Trials
COV2FIN11 Phase I Trial
Rokote Laboratories has successfully completed its first Phase I clinical trial, assessing the safety and immune response of FINVAC COVID-19 delivered via two methods: nasal drops and nasal spray. The vaccine was well tolerated, with a favourable safety profile. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed.
COV2FIN12 Phase I clinical trial
The COV2FIN12 Phase I clinical trial using the FINVAC COVID-19 vaccine began in January 2026 and introduces an enhanced FINVAC platform featuring a novel buffer optimized for intranasal delivery. Recruitment of study participants has now been completed. The study compares the currently used vaccine buffer with the newly developed FINVAC nasal formulation. This next-generation formulation is designed to position FINVAC as a leading nasal vaccine platform for pandemic preparedness and protection against seasonal respiratory pathogens. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
About Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy
Rokote Laboratories is a Finnish biotechnology company founded in 2020 through a collaboration between the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland. The company develops adenovirus-based vector vaccines with a focus on nasal delivery and mucosal immunity.
Our mission is to make vaccination safer, easier, and more equitable worldwide by developing affordable, needle-free, intranasal vaccines that block infection and transmission at the source.
Latest news
Rokote Laboratories Finland receives a second clinical trial authorization for FINVAC COVID-19 vaccine
Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy is proud to announce that we have received Clinical Trial Authorization (CTA) for our second Phase I clinical trial of the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine. The upcoming study, titled:"A Phase 1a, single-blind, randomized comparative clinical...
Terhi Reunama Appointed as Head of Clinical Trial Operations
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Terhi Reunama as our new Head of Clinical Trial Operations. Terhi brings nearly 30 years of clinical research experience from both the pharmaceutical industry and CRO organizations. A registered nurse with a Bachelor of...
Our Nasal COVID-19 Vaccine Moves to First Human Trials
Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy is starting the first clinical drug trial with its nasal COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been developed and manufactured in Finland, and the study will be conducted at Kuopio University Hospital starting January 21, 2025. The...
Our Team
Key Personnel
Erkko Ylösmäki
PhD, Adjunct Professor
CEO
CEO
BIO
Erkko Ylösmäki, PhD and Adjunct Professor in Biological Drug development, has 20 years of experience in the development of novel oncolytic viruses and virus and bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy platforms. In 2019 he received the Young Virologist of the Year award from the Foundation for Research on Viral Diseases. Before joining Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy, he worked as an Academy of Finland-funded researcher at the Immunovirotherapy Laboratory lead by Professor Vincenzo Cerullo. He earned his PhD in virology from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki in 2013.
Terhi Reunama
Head of Clinical
Trial Operations
BIO
Terhi Reunama is a clinical research expert with nearly 30 years of experience in both the pharmaceutical industry and CRO companies. She is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree, majoring in Nursing Management. She has worked in several roles: research nurse, CRA and study manager both locally and globally in Phase I–IV studies in several therapeutic areas, including vaccines. Terhi has experience in leading multicultural teams and large multi-center studies on all continents, as well as in audits and numerous regulatory inspections (including Fimea, FDA, MHRA, EMA).
Tobias Freitag
MD
Head of Vaccine Immunity
Head of Vaccine Immunity
BIO
Tobias Freitag is immunologist and medical researcher. He obtained his medical doctorate at the University of Tübingen, and has worked in clinical gastroenterology and rheumatology at the University of Erlangen and at West Middlesex University Hospital in London. He received post-doctoral training in Detlef Schuppan’s group in the Dept. of Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, and in Seppo Meri’s group in the Dept. of Bacteriology and Immunology at the University of Helsinki. Tobias Freitag is an expert in (mucosal) immunology, therapeutic immunomodulation, vaccine immunity and translational medicine, and has gained experience in many publicly-funded and industry-sponsored academic research projects. He is a university researcher and principal investigator within the Dept. of Bacteriology and Immunology at the University of Helsinki.
Tuula Wallén
MSc
Quality Manager
Quality Manager
BIO
Tuula Wallén has worked for more than 40 years in the pharmaceutical industry in various positions, e.g. in marketing, clinical trials and quality assurance with pharmaceutical products, X-ray contrast media and medical devices in Finland and in Nordic organizations. She has also worked as a clinical trial associate, clinical trial manager and quality manager in both contract research organizations and in pharmaceutical companies. She holds a Master of Science degree in biochemistry and has also completed a marketing degree.
Kirsi Hellström
PhD, Adjunct Professor
CMC Advisor
CMC Advisor
BIO
Kirsi Hellström holds a PhD in biotechnology from the University of Jyväskylä and a title of docent in cell and molecular biology from the University of Helsinki. She has worked in cancer research at the unit of Medical Biotechnology of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd and in alphavirus replication research at the University of Helsinki. Most recently she has worked at Targovax Oy (now Circio Holding ASA) in various CMC positions, especially in manufacturing and supply chains of oncolytic adenoviruses for clinical trials. She has also worked as an interim Head of CMC and as a Biosafety Officer of the company.
Nora Rauhala
CRA
BIO
Nora Rauhala has worked for several years in the field of clinical trials as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and a Medical Writer. Tasks include for example submissions of Clinical Trial Applications, training of study site personnel and monitoring of trials at study site. Nora has also written clinical study protocols and reports. Nora Rauhala is a Master of Science student, medical physics as major subject.
Sammeli Liikkanen
PhD, eMBA, Digital Medicine Advisor
BIO
Sammeli Liikkanen is Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy’s advisor in the digitalization of the clinical research program and new solutions. He has extensive experience in pharmaceutical research and development, as well as in the digitalization of medicine and healthcare. Nowadays, he works at Orion as the director of digital medicine and the leader of Orion’s research ecosystem project. In addition, he acts as an advisor to several companies related to digital health.
Board and advisors
Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
MD, PhD, Academy Professor
Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
BIO
Seppo Ylä-Herttuala is a world leader in viral gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases as well as brain and bladder tumors. His team was the first to use adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to human arteries already in 1995. Since then, he has conducted nine Phase I–III clinical trials in cardiovascular and cancer gene therapy. He has also been heavily involved in the development of new gene transfer vectors and led large scale manufacturing process development of gene therapy products. He has served as President of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (2010–2012) and as Editor-in-Chief of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy’s leading journal Molecular Therapy (2015–2019). Currently, he is the head of the National Virus Vector Laboratory in the University of Eastern Finland. He is one of the original founders of Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy.
Kalle Saksela
MD, PhD, Professor
Member of the Board
BIO
Kalle Saksela is Professor and Chairman at the Department of Virology, University of Helsinki. He received his MD and PhD in 1989 from the University of Helsinki. After that he was a postdoctoral fellow in the USA in the laboratory of Nobel laureate David Baltimore (the Whitehead Institute, later the Rockefeller University). In 1994 he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Rockefeller University. In 1996 became Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Tampere, and in 2005 was appointed to his current position at the University of Helsinki. He has a strong track record in basic research on cellular and molecular biology of virus–host cell interactions, as well as in different aspects of applied virology, such as phage-assisted protein engineering and design of viral vectors for therapeutic use. He is an inventor of several patents and has been actively involved in biotech start-up companies. He is one of the original founders of Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy.
Aki Prihti
MSc (Econ)
Member of the Board
Member of the Board
BIO
Aki Prihti joined the Board of Rokote Laboratories Finland in the summer of 2021. He is CEO of Aplagon Oy and serves as a board member in Herantis Pharma Oyj, Medtentia International Ltd Oy and Dassiet Oy. He is also one of the founders of Inveni Capital, a life science focused venture capital fund. Aki has more than twenty years of experience in building life science growth companies, both in operational and board roles.
Tuija Keinonen
PhD (Pharm), Advisor to the Board and Management
BIO
Tuija Keinonen is PhD (Pharm) focused on Pharmacology and Toxicology from University of Eastern Finland. She has extensive experience in business management, especially in contract research business, its establishment and working with international pharmaceutical industry. She has been working in Oy Medfiles Ltd (CRO) over 30 years and acted as CEO for 15 years as well as clinical research director and quality director, and has led Oy Medipharmia Ltd (CDMO) as CEO. She has held several positions of trust both in the private and public sectors as well as board memberships (eg. TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, where acting also as Chair of the Board). She has also certified board member and chair of the board status (CBM). In addition, she works as an advisor in several healthcare and health technology companies. Additionally, she has been Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia since 2012.
Kari Alitalo
MD, PhD, Academy Professor
Scientific Advisor
Scientific Advisor
BIO
Kari Alitalo is Professor Emeritus and Academician of Science. He is tenured Research Professor of the Finnish Academy of Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki, and Director of Centre of Excellence in Translational Cancer Biology and Wihuri Research Institute. He is one of the original founders of Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy.
Pasi Kemppainen
MSc (Tech)
Strategy Advisor
Strategy Advisor
BIO
Pasi Kemppainen is co-founder of Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy. He has extensive experience of early-stage technology venturing and has held leadership positions in life science and high-tech industries including Santen Pharmaceutical, Novo Nordisk, Epista Life Science, Nokia and Telia. Currently he is working as a global supply chain strategy director at Santen Pharmaceutical and as an advisor for various high-tech startups.
Kari Varkila
MD, PhD, MBA
Clinical Development Advisor
BIO
Kari Varkila is the Chief Medical Officer at TILT Biotherapeutics and an independent consultant and an advisor at several biopharmaceutical and health technology companies as well as in organizations governing healthcare. He has obtained MD/PhD and specialist in clinical microbiology degrees at the University of Helsinki. He has also an MBA from the University of Lausanne/IMD in Switzerland. He has also certified board member (CBM) status. During his early career he worked in academic and biopharmaceutical research in Finland and in the US. Following that he held for more than 20 years leadership positions in pharmaceutical industry and in healthcare institutions. In addition, he has worked as a senior strategy consultant in an insurance company and in a multinational consulting company. One of his areas of special expertise is vaccine research and development. He is also an experienced influencer in the healthcare policy arena and an active Board member in several startup companies and research foundations.
Laura Suoranta
MSc (Tech)
CMC Advisor
CMC Advisor
BIO
Laura Suoranta has graduated from the Helsinki University of Technology (Aalto) and holds a Master of Science (tech) degree in bioengineering. She has worked for more than a decade in the clinical development of oncolytic viruses at Targovax Oy (formerly Oncos Therapeutics Oy, now Circio Holding ASA) in various CMC positions. In recent years, she was responsible for the development and implementation of an industrial-scale GMP manufacturing process for oncolytic adenoviruses as well as the related comparability demonstration. Previously, she was responsible for the adenovirus GMP production for phase I and II clinical trials. Before her career with viral vectors, she has worked in the plant biotechnology research group at VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd, where her work focused e.g. on producing active pharmaceutical compounds in plant cell and tissue cultures.
Anna-Kaisa Lehtivarjo
MSc
Quality Advisor
Quality Advisor
BIO
Anna-Kaisa Lehtivarjo holds an MSc in biotechnology and molecular biology. She has over 10 years of experience in quality assurance and CMC regulatory affairs in advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) manufacturing industry. Anna-Kaisa Lehtivarjo has worked in many quality roles, such as Qualified Person, Regulatory Affairs Manager and Quality Unit Director, being responsible for the Quality Assurance and Systems, Quality Control and Environmental Monitoring units of the manufacturing site.
