GV, the venture capital arm of Google's parent Alphabet, is backing a U.K. company that is developing the world's first vaccine to combat all types of flu, reports Reuters.
Vaccitech, the U.K. company, has now raised 20 million pounds ($27 million) from investors across the globe.
The company said the cash will help fund a two-year clinical trial that will involve more than 2,000 patients.
A universal vaccine would work by targeting the parts of the flu virus that do not change from year to year. Vaccitech's vaccine uses proteins found in the core of the virus, which remain constant, rather than the proteins found on its surface, which frequently change.
Vaccitech CEO Tom Evans is confident that if the mid-stage clinical trial is a success, a partner would easily take the vaccine into a late-stage clinical trial.
"If we get positive data that shows we can affect rates of hospitalization and illness with influenza then there is no question in my mind that a partner would take this on," Mr. Evans told Reuters. "This could be a game-changer in a very competitive market."