Date: 2014-01-06
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: virosome vaccine
Company: RSVC Corporation (USA) Mymetics (Switzerland)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: licensing
collaboration
Action mechanism: The virosome vaccine consists of membrane nanoparticles containing the native key viral surface proteins that are targets of the immune system, but lack the genetic material required to cause infection. In pre-clinical testing, it generated powerful immune responses and strong protection against RSV. Virosome-based vaccines have a proven track record of safety and efficacy for the prevention of other infections including influenza.
Disease: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection
Details: * On January 6, 2014, Astellas Pharma and ClearPath Development Company have announced a strategic partnership to form a portfolio of development companies focused on vaccines targeting infectious diseases. The partnership was established to support Astellas’ goal of building a global vaccine franchise and launched its first company, RSV Corporation (RSVC), in December 2013. Astellas will fund RSVC’s development of a virosome vaccine technology, licensed from Mymetics Corporation for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) through completion of a Phase 2b human proof-of-concept study. Based on the strategic partnership, Astellas received exclusive rights to acquire RSVC as well as further develop and commercialize the vaccine product.
Mymetics will collaborate with RSVC on the development of the vaccine, with Toon Stegmann PhD, CSO of Mymetics, remaining engaged on pre-clinical activities including nonclinical evaluation, formulation development, and manufacturing. RSVC’s development team is led by George Siber, MD, a recognized vaccine expert with more than 35 years experience.
Financial terms: For its technology for RSV, Mymetics could receive upfront and post proof-of-concept milestone payments up to $82 million, as well as double digits royalties and other payments.
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