Pharmexa and BN ImmunoTherapeutics enter license agreement
Pharmexa has entered into an agreement with BN ImmunoTherapeutics, whereby BN ImmunoTherapeutics obtains a worldwide non-exclusive license to formulate our HER-2 DNA AutoVac(TM) therapeutic vaccine technology against breast cancer in their MVA-BN vector. The new agreement amends the previous agreement between Pharmexa and Bavarian Nordic announced in October 2003.
Under the new agreement, BN ImmunoTherapeutics will develop a new therapeutic vaccine against breast cancer combining the technologies of the two companies. The agreement includes milestone payments and a royalty on sales to Pharmexa if the project is successful. Further financial details from the collaboration are not disclosed
Bavarian Nordic's cancer therapy approach is to develop vaccines targeting both the humoral (antibody) and cellular arm of the immune system. The MVA-BN vector will transport the HER-2 DNA AutoVac(TM) molecule into the immune cells, which then start a killer cell and antibody based immune response against breast cancer cells expressing the HER-2 protein. Bavarian Nordic has previously demonstrated the MVA-BN vector's ability to generate immune responses. The inclusion of the AutoVac(TM) technology is expected to increase the immunogenicity and thus the effectiveness of the vaccine, even further.
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