The Hindu Business Line : Avesthagen inks pact to co-develp novel vaccines

Bangalore, April 25 Avesthagen Ltd said it has signed a letter of intent with ShigaMediX SAS, Paris, to co-develop novel vaccines against cervical cancer-causing human papilloma virus and tuberculosis.

The cancer vaccine will be based on ShigaMedix’s antigen vector system technology. A similar technology will be used to develop an STxB – TB vaccine. The two will share the costs and rewards equally and will sign the co-development and licensing agreement in the coming weeks, the company said.

“Avesthagen and ShigaMediX will co-develop this technology in both France and India through proof of concept and share the costs and rewards on an equal basis,” said Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell, founder and Chairman and Managing Director of Avesthagen.

Investment

Developing each of such products could cost €10 million (around Rs 62 crore) and about three years, said Mr Bruce Murdoch, Chief Business Officer.

The move is part of Avesthagen’s planned entry into bio-pharmaceuticals – of which bio-similars should hit the market around mid-2009, as Dr Patell said. The French company founded in 2005 is working on new immunotherapeutics.

The ShigaMediX technology targets the antigen presenting dendritic cells. Recent studies on animals have shown it to effectively clear the HPV-induced tumour cells.

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