Astellas Pharma (Astellas) and ClearPath Development Company (ClearPath) 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 commercialise the vaccine product.
“This partnership highlights our commitment to build a global vaccine business and represents a highly efficient model for bringing innovative vaccines to market,” said Kenji Yasukawa, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Astellas.
RSV is a respiratory pathogen which infects patients of all ages. The infection can be especially severe in infants and older adults with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disease. Each year the virus infects 64 million people and is responsible for 160,000 deaths worldwide. Currently, there is no vaccine available for this virus.
“The financial backing and commercial experience of Astellas combined with ClearPath’s development expertise and our continued programme involvement are unique factors which all work to increase the likelihood of success,” said Ronald Kempers, Chief Executive Officer, Mymetics.
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. 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.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai