Date: 2012-05-09
Type of information: R&D agreement
Compound: use of LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Virus) as a vector in Vivalis' proprietary cell line
Company: Vivalis (France) Biodiem (Australia)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement:
Action mechanism:
Disease: nasopharyngeal carcinoma and respiratory syncytial virus infection
Details: The Australian infectious disease therapy and vaccine development company BioDiem and Vivalis have begun a research collaboration. The collaboration involves investigation of the synergy of Biodiem proprietary virus LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Virus) and Vivalis’ proprietary cell line, EB66®. Successful results from this investigation could be used as a basis for a new agreement in order to test the feasability of development of Biodiem's LAIV as a vector in Vivalis' proprietary cell line. Viral vector technology is used in vaccines to deliver immune stimulating proteins into the body. Vivalis is undertaking research to further evaluate the potential of this technology in Biodiem's non-influenza vaccine applications.
BioDiem has considerable in-house expertise around the Live Attenuated Influenza Virus (LAIV), having an existing LAIV-based technology for the production of influenza vaccines, currently generating licensing revenues in India and China. BioDiem has proposed developing the LAIV as a versatile ‘vector’ (carrier) technology, which could be used to create a variety of new vaccines (both therapeutic and preventative). This proposed vector would be developed to have the toxicity (as the virus backbone is already weakened), excellent virus characterisation from extensive prior work, and the ability to be customised to target particular diseases.
This initial collaboration involves Vivalis confirming that BioDiem’s LAIV strains grow satisfactorily in its proprietary cell line EB66® and examining any effects on the virus' characteristics. During this stage, BioDiem’s long-term collaborator, and LAIV developer, the In
Petersburg, will send an LAIV expert to work on-site with Vivalis in France.
This initial program is estimated to take up to ten weeks. Following successful demonstrations of growth and productivity, BioDiem will look to negotiate another agreement with Vivalis regarding a longer research project aimed at developing a stable LAIV vector technology incorporating EB66® platform for growth.
Financial terms:
Latest news: * On August 21, 2012, BioDiem has announced successful results from two programs of work carried out by French partner Vivalis, confirming the ability of BioDiem’s Live Attenuated Influenza Virus (LAIV) to grow in VIVALIS’ proprietary EB66® cell line.
The next stage of the collaboration between BioDiem and VIVALIS will use known techniques to modify the LAIV virus to demonstrate and optimize the methodology for making a customizable “vector” which could be used by vaccine developers for the development of new vaccines targeting other specific diseases. Priority disease targets include nasopharyngeal carcinoma and respiratory syncytial virus infection.
The results are significant for both companies, as both the BioDiem LAIV virus and the Vivalis EB66® cell line have been used to produce vaccines that have been tested in successful Phase II clinical trials. The resulting human safety data will facilitate a shorter and lower cost path to commercialisation on completion of the next stage of development with Vivalis.
BioDiem has world-leading in-house expertise in the LAIV virus, and is committed to expanding the value of the technology by developing specific disease treatments. The proposed vector would take advantage of LAIV’s safety profile and low toxicity (as the virus backbone is already weakened), intranasal spray delivery, and the ability to be customised to target particular diseases.
Vivalis undertook this research based on the high potential value of BioDiem’s technology in non-influenza vaccine applications, both therapeutic and preventative. This work has confirmed the successful and abundant growth of LAIV in VIVALIS’ EB66® cell line. The next step will be the development of a stable LAIV vector technology which uses EB66® as a base platform for growth.
The next steps for BioDiem’s vector program will revolve around further development of the vector platform, establishment of a best practice production process, and licensing and manufacturing agreement establishment.
