China-based Jiangsu Recbio Technology Company has entered into a licensing cooperation agreement with Biological E (BE) for technology transfer of its Recombinant 9-valent HPV (HPV9) vaccine.
HPV is a group of over 200 known viruses, some of which are classified as high-risk due to their potential to cause cancer. The HPV9 vaccine is a recombinant vaccine designed to protect against nine types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including those responsible for cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as genital warts.
As part of the agreement, Recbio will provide Hyderabad-based BE with Drug Substance (DS) and transfer technology to formulate, fill, and package vaccines. It will also include technology transfer for DS production at an appropriate time in the future.
Right to commercialise
The technology transfer process had already commenced. BE will receive the exclusive right to commercialise the vaccine in India and participate in UNICEF & PAHO tenders in other markets.
Recbio has begun transferring the necessary technical knowledge, materials, and expertise to BE to produce the HPV9 vaccine and will continue to support in clinical development and regulatory approvals. BE will begin large-scale manufacturing of the HPV9 vaccine once the technology transfer is completed.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Biological E. This cooperation is another significant progress for Recbio in expanding into international markets., We will work together with our Indian partner to accelerate the launch process of the HPV9 vaccine in India, and jointly make greater contributions to global public health,’‘ Liu Yong, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Recbio said in a release on Monday.
Mahima Datla, Managing Director, BE said: “We are pleased to partner with Recbio to bring the HPV9 vaccine to India and other countries. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to improving global health by making essential vaccines more accessible and affordable as well as to promote a lasting legacy of innovation and stewardship.’‘
In 2019 alone, HPV was linked to an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 in men. Recbio’s core product, REC603, is for people ranging from 9 to 45 years old and is currently in the crucial Phase III clinical trials in China.