Date: 2012-04-03
Type of information: R&D agreement
Compound: therapeutic vaccines
Company: Roche (Switzerland) the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS - France) Baylor Research Institute (USA ) Inserm Transfert (France)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: R&D
collaboration
Action mechanism:
Disease: chronic infectious diseases
Details: Roche, the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS), Baylor Research Institute (BRI, the research arm of Baylor Health Care System in Dallas), and Inserm Transfert have announced a long-term collaboration to develop therapeutic vaccines for chronic infections. The researchers will utilize a novel technology platform developed by Baylor Institute for Immunology Research (BIIR), a component of BRI, and ANRS and Inserm associated research units, to identify and produce therapeutic vaccines that target dendritic cells, a critical component of the mammalian immune system. The technology platform enables the creation of novel fusion proteins comprised of a dendritic cell targeting antibody, viral antigens and linker sequences. The ANRS/BIIR collaboration has led to the development of lead candidates for HCV, HIV and TB vaccines based on targeting relevant antigens to different subpopulations of dendritic cells via several receptors for both therapeutic and preventative applications.
The collaborating parties will identify and optimize potential lead candidates and then develop select molecules for clinical proof-of-concept. Each party brings unique strengths to the collaboration: BRI’s expertise in dendritic cell targeting and fusion protein biochemistry, and ANRS’ extensive expertise in vaccine development and prophylactic and therapeutic clinical trials will be seamlessly coupled with Roche’s protein engineering skill and experience in the development of biologics. In addition, Inserm Transfert will provide know-how in intellectual property and alliance management. A joint steering committee comprised of members from all the institutions will oversee the collaboration.
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