Date: 2015-01-21
Type of information: Milestone
Compound: multi-valent bacterial vaccine employing GlycoVaxyn's bio-conjugation technology
Company: Glycovaxyn (Switzerland) Janssen Pharmaceuticals - J&J (USA)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: R&D
licensing
Action mechanism:
Disease: infections caused by Extra-intestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), such as urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Details: GlycoVaxyn AG, a leader in the development of innovative vaccines, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have signed an exclusive license agreement and entered into a three-year research and development collaboration to develop a multi-valent bacterial vaccine employing GlycoVaxyn\'s bio-conjugation technology.
GlycoVaxyn will collaborate with Janssen\'s affiliate, Crucell Holland BV, on the development of the multi-valent vaccine until proof-of-concept, after which Janssen will be responsible for later-stage clinical studies and world-wide commercialization.
GlycoVaxyn is a privately-funded company developing a portfolio of novel bio-conjugate vaccines against common severe bacterial infections produced with its unique, proprietary in vivo glycosylation platform. With this platform, the company can develop and produce immunogenic glycoprotein conjugates in a biological process that circumvents many of the challenges and uncertainties involved in currently/chemical used methods. In addition to the clinical stage Shigella vaccine, lead programs in preclinical stage are aimed at the prevention of hospital acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections, as well as pneumococcal invasive diseases and uropathogenic E. coli.
Financial terms: The consideration to GlycoVaxyn includes an upfront payment, milestone payments, royalties as well as reimbursement of research and development expenses. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Latest news: * On January 21, 2015, GlycoVaxyn announced that it has received the first milestone in its clinical co-development with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, of the vaccine candidate aimed to prevent infections caused by Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC).
The clinical milestone is linked to the achievement of a robust immune-response against all antigens included into the vaccine candidate at 30 days post-vaccination. The induction of bactericidal (opsonophagocytic) antibodies, a well-known protective mechanism against bacteremia, is being measured in the ongoing clinical study. The first-in-human, placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter study currently conducted in Switzerland includes 194 women affected by recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The primary aim is to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate, including the measurement of bactericidal antibodies.
