Seattle-based biotechnology company Orlance Inc. is expanding its vaccine research and development operations to Eastern Washington through a $250,000 grant from the Health Sciences and Services Authority of Spokane County, bringing new jobs and plans for clinical trials to the region, says Erin Williams Hueter, HSSA executive director. 

The award is part of HSSA's new funding initiative designed to attract biotechnology companies headquartered outside Spokane County. The goal is to encourage businesses to establish operations in the area while advancing medical research and commercialization, says Williams Hueter.

Orlance will use the funding to hire a regulatory and clinical specialist, expand its research capabilities, and partner with a Spokane County-based firm as it prepares to advance its needle-free vaccine technology through the regulatory approval process, says Orlance CEO Kristyn Aalto.

The company is exploring potential Spokane locations, with the goal of finding space near medical centers and independent research clinics, Aalto says.

The two-year grant requires a dollar-for-dollar funding match, which Orlance satisfied through research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Williams Hueter says the agreement also requires the company to create at least one qualifying position in Spokane County.

Upon completing its initial objectives tied to the current grant, Orlance can apply for an additional $750,000 grant, provided it retains its initial position. That funding would help create three additional full-time jobs in Spokane County. HSSA limits lifetime awards to $1 million per entity, Williams Hueter explains. 

The funding supports a critical stage of the company's development, connecting years of scientific research with the regulatory expertise and resources needed to bring new medical technologies toward commercialization, Aalto says.

The company's lead product is an experimental influenza vaccine designed to provide broad protection against multiple strains without requiring annual reformulation, she explains.

"How do we make more effective vaccines? Vaccines that we can get out more quickly, in the case of a pandemic response," Aalto says.

Unlike conventional injectable vaccines, Orlance's MACH-1 platform uses a pneumatic applicator to deliver a powdered vaccine directly on the outermost layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, she says.

The technology targets immune cells concentrated near the skin's surface, generating an immune response designed to protect against respiratory infections while reducing dosages and side effects associated with conventional vaccinations, Aalto explains.

The company's research aims to produce influenza protection that lasts two to three years, which would eliminate the need to predict circulating flu strains months before each season, Aalto says.

Orlance's proposed vaccine reduces medication dosages by 90% compared to conventional influenza vaccines, according to the company's website. The experimental formulation also eliminates cold chain logistics such as refrigeration requirements, simplifying storage, transportation, and distribution, Aalto says.

The company's initial vaccine applicator resembles a handheld hair dryer, but Aalto explains Orlance is developing a smaller, disposable version intended for eventual self-administration, which could eliminate the need for patients to visit medical facilities for vaccinations.

Beyond influenza, the company is working on vaccine and immunotherapy candidates targeting other infectious diseases and several cancers. The technology is designed to stimulate immune responses in respiratory and other mucosal tissues, opening additional applications in cancer prevention and treatment, she says.

The company also has attracted interest from the U.S. Department of Defense because temperature-stable vaccines could support military personnel operating in remote locations, Aalto says.

Orlance plans to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization to begin its initial clinical study within one year, with preliminary results targeted within three years. Aalto says her goal is to secure a major pharmaceutical development partner within five years.

Spokane's established medical infrastructure played a central role in the company's expansion decision, she says.

"We have these independent clinical research facilities in Spokane that have an excellent track record, in some cases with decades of experience," Aalto says.

Healthcare professionals, established research facilities, and transportation connections provide advantages for biotechnology companies seeking to develop new medical products in the Spokane area without the costs and complexities of some larger metropolitan markets, she says.

The expansion also reflects HSSA's broader strategy to recruit biotechnology businesses seeking to establish operations outside their headquarters markets.

The approach followed recommendations from a 2023 life sciences study commissioned by Greater Spokane Incorporated, which identified opportunities to attract portions of biotechnology operations rather than requiring entire companies to relocate, Williams Hueter says. 

"It's difficult for startup companies to leave their network of support and advisers in their home community," Williams Hueter says. "We help them expand into our region while keeping the existing network."

HSSA requires grant expenditures to support Spokane County employees, facilities, and vendors, directing research investment into the region's economy. The strategy strengthens Spokane's biotechnology sector while generating business for supporting industries, including legal services, accounting, marketing, and specialized research providers, Williams Hueter says.

"They're developing things that are helping our healthcare system work better," Williams Hueter says.

The investment also builds on Spokane's growing health sciences infrastructure, including university research programs, specialized medical facilities, and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, she says.

HSSA plans to open another research, development, and commercialization grant opportunity for existing Spokane County businesses in December, followed by another relocation-focused funding round in June 2027.