Group 1 - The conference "Investing in Humanity: United to End Polio" raised a total of $1.9 billion for polio eradication, with the Gates Foundation contributing $1.2 billion [4] - The global effort to eradicate polio has seen a 99.9% reduction in cases since 1988, with only 28 new cases reported this year, all in Afghanistan and Pakistan [3] - The CEO of the Gates Foundation expressed cautious optimism about achieving zero cases in the next one to two years, despite challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan [3][5] Group 2 - The World Health Organization's Director-General highlighted the potential for polio to become the second human disease eradicated, emphasizing the importance of this achievement for future generations [3] - A report from the Gates Foundation indicated a concerning trend, predicting an increase in global child mortality rates for the first time this century, with an estimated 4.8 million children under five expected to die in 2024 [5]

Core Viewpoint - Evaxion A/S has received funding from the Gates Foundation to develop a new vaccine aimed at eradicating polio, utilizing its AI-Immunology™ platform to create innovative vaccine constructs [1][3][9] Company Overview - Evaxion A/S is a clinical-stage TechBio company focused on AI-powered vaccine development, particularly in the field of immunology [1][10] - The company employs its proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for various diseases [10] Project Details - The project will leverage Evaxion's AI-Immunology™ platform to identify and combine different antigens to combat the polio virus, with the goal of designing new vaccine constructs [3][4] - The funding from the Gates Foundation will cover the project's costs, allowing Evaxion to pursue this initiative without financial burden [3][4] Polio Context - Despite the availability of polio vaccines for decades, the disease remains a global health threat, with a risk of resurgence if not fully eradicated [2][8] - Polio primarily affects children under five, with one in 200 infections leading to irreversible paralysis, and a significant mortality rate among those paralyzed [7] Vaccine Innovation - Current polio vaccines rely on inactivated or attenuated viruses, which pose safety risks; the new approach aims to eliminate the use of live viruses in vaccine production [5][6] - The project seeks to create a safer and more effective alternative to existing polio vaccines, addressing unmet needs in the context of polio eradication efforts [6][8]