ILiAD Biotechnologies, LLC (ILiAD), the French National Institute of
Health and Medical Research (Inserm) subsidiary, Inserm Transfert SA,
and Institut Pasteur de Lille (IPL) today announced the signing of
scientific collaboration and worldwide license agreements for live
attenuated Bordetella pertussis vaccine technology, including
BPZE1, developed by the laboratory of Professor Camille Locht. This
license agreement covers patent rights from Institut Pasteur de Lille,
Inserm, National University of Singapore1 and National
University of Ireland Maynooth2.
Building on today’s publication in the journal PLOS One (“A phase
I clinical study of a live attenuated Bordetella pertussis
vaccine – BPZE1; […]”, Jan. 8, 2013, see link),
which suggests that BPZE1 is safe in healthy adults and can induce
immune responses targeting Bordetella pertussis, ILiAD, Inserm
and IPL now intend to optimize and advance the BPZE technology in
preparation for future clinical studies.
“Pertussis remains one of the major vaccine-preventable diseases
world-wide, despite large global vaccination coverage. This illustrates
the shortcomings of current vaccines and highlights the need to develop
a totally different vaccine,” said Prof. Camille Locht, head of the
Center for Infection and Immunity at Lille, supported by Inserm and
Institut Pasteur de Lille. Locht, an inventor of the BPZE technology,
added, “In the study published in PLOS One, we have now provided
proof of concept that a live attenuated nasal vaccine may be an
attractive approach towards eradicating this disease. Following the
successful outcome of this study, we are very excited to join forces
with ILiAD and are confident that this collaboration will have a major
impact on this important public health issue.”
“Entering into a close partnership with ILiAD, whereby each party
provides expertise, experience and resources, represents an innovative
approach for Inserm and Institut Pasteur de Lille to efficiently advance
this major technology” said Dr. Stéphane Thumelin, Director Business
Development, Licensing. “It is noteworthy that the BPZE platform may
provide a wide variety of applications in the field of respiratory
diseases,” added Augustin Godard, EVP, Open Innovation, both at Inserm
Transfert.
"Global eradication of pertussis is the primary objective of
ILiAD Biotechnologies,” said Dr. Keith Rubin, CEO of ILiAD
Biotechnologies. “Given the devastating impact of pertussis and
the suboptimal performance of current pertussis vaccines, we
believe the vaccine technology developed in Professor Locht’s laboratory
holds enormous potential to prevent disease and save lives."
Financial details of these agreements remain confidential.
About ILiAD Biotechnologies, LLC
ILiAD Biotechnologies (www.iliadbio.com)
is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to
the prevention and treatment of human disease caused by Bordetella
pertussis. The company is developing and acquiring key technologies,
working with leading researchers to overcome the limitations of current
vaccines, and is focused on validating its proprietary vaccines in human
clinical trials. Walter Greenblatt & Associates (www.wgreenblatt.com),
an investment bank focused on early stage life science companies, serves
as the exclusive financial advisor to ILiAD.
About Inserm Transfert
Founded in 2000, Inserm Transfert SA (www.inserm‐transfert.fr/en)
is the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and
Medical Research (Inserm), dedicated to technology transfer (from
invention disclosure to industrial partnership). Inserm Transfert also
manages European and international research projects, supports
large-scale projects in epidemiology and public health. Inserm Transfert
runs a 2M€/year proof-of-concept fund. The company also supports
entrepreneurs in the biotech sector, in partnership with Inserm
Transfert Initiative, a €39.7M life sciences seed investment company.
About Inserm
Founded in 1964, the French National Health and Medical Research
Institute (Inserm, www.inserm.fr)
is a public science and technology institute, jointly supervised by the
French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of
Health. The mission of its scientists is to study all diseases, from the
most common to the most rare, through their work in biological, medical
and public health research. With a budget of 840 million euros in 2012,
Inserm supports more than 300 laboratories across France. In total, the
teams include nearly 13,000 researchers, engineers, technicians and
administrative staff, etc. Inserm is a member of the National Alliance
for Life and Health Sciences, founded in April 2009 with CNRS, Inserm,
the CEA, INRA, INRIA, the IRD, the Pasteur Institute, the Conference of
University Presidents - Conférence des Présidents d'Université (CPU) and
the Conference of Chairmen of The Regional and University Hospital
Centres - Conférence des directeurs généraux de centres hospitaliers
régionaux and universitaires. This alliance forms part of the policy to
reform the research system by better coordinating the parts played by
those involved and by strengthening the position of French research in
this field through a concerted plan.
About Institut Pasteur de Lille
The Institut Pasteur de Lille (www.pasteur-lille.fr)
is a non-profit private foundation. It was created 120 years ago, was
the birthplace of the BCG vaccine at the turn of the twentieth century
and now hosts approximately 700 persons devoted to people’s health for
“a better and longer life”. Since its creation, the mission of Institut
Pasteur de Lille is to prevent major contemporary diseases by
understanding them and their underlying mechanisms, acting directly on
their environment and advancing the evolution of human behavior.
Today, in the medical research department, 32 research teams focus on a
range of human disease including infectious diseases and
immunopathologies, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and metabolic
diseases, cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995.
In addition to historical facts or statements of current, this press
release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements provide ILiAD's current expectations or forecasts of future
events. These may include statements regarding anticipated
development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results,
prospects for regulatory approval, outsourcing trends in the
pharmaceutical industry, levels of industry research and development
spending, rapid technological change, risks associated with acquisitions
and investments, risks associated directly with BPZE technologies
including but not limited to uncertainties of product development, and
uncertainties of clinical development, dependence on third parties,
competition, protection of patents and proprietary technology, potential
for infringement and other statements regarding matters that are not
historical fact. Some of these forward looking statements may be
identified by use of words in the statements such as "estimate,"
"intend," or other words and terms of similar meaning. Statements
in this release are not guarantees of future performance and involve
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to
predict. Therefore actual outcomes and results may differ
materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements.
ILiAD cautions investors not to place reliance on the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release. These statements speak only
as of the date of this release and ILiAD undertakes no obligations to
update or review these statements, except as may be required by law.
1 National University of Singapore, please see : www.nus.edu.sg
2 University of Ireland Maynooth, please see : http://commercialisation.nuim.ie/
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