HORSHOLM, Denmark & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Today, ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS (“ExpreS2ion”), a fully owned subsidiary of ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB, and ABIVAX S.A. (Paris:ABVX), (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 – ABVX), an innovative biotechnology company targeting the immune system to eliminate viral disease, have entered into a service agreement and a term sheet for a commercial license agreement under which ExpreS2ion and ABIVAX collaborate in the development of their proprietary prophylactic and treatment for Ebola virus infection, ABX544. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The Agreement
ExpreS2ion and ABIVAX have signed a
Process Development Service Agreement (“the Service Agreement”), as well
as a term sheet for a Commercial ExpreS2ion Platform License
Agreement (“the License Agreement”) for ABX544, which specifies the
terms and conditions for a commercial license to ExpreS2ion’s
proprietary technology platform, ExpreS2. According to the
Service Agreement, ExpreS2ion will develop a process for the
GMP production of an Ebola antigen, which is required for the production
of ABX544. The overall preclinical work package is expected to be
executed in 2017. The corresponding License Agreement is scheduled to be
signed within three months. The financial terms of the agreement were
not disclosed.
Ebola
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola
haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. The
virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals (fruit bats and
monkeys) and following spread in the human population through
human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is
around 50%, but fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past
outbreaks. The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in
Central Africa near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak
in West Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas. This
2014/15 outbreak was particularly severe, causing the disease in >28.000
individuals of which >11.000 died. There are currently no licensed Ebola
vaccines (but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation) and no
specific treatments (WHO Jan. 2016).
ABX544
The ABX544 program targets the generation of an Ebola
hyperimmune anti-serum, containing neutralising antibodies produced from
animals immunised with a specific Ebola antigen. In contrast to a
vaccine that needs time to generate a protective response, ABX544 should
have an immediate effect when administered. It can be applied either as
treatment of infected persons or for protection of non-infected persons
including health care workers, constituting a first line of defence
during epidemic outbreaks. Following the formal preclinical evaluation
including toxicology, ABIVAX aims to bring ABX544 into clinical trials.
Executive Management Comments
Prof. Hartmut Ehrlich, M.D.,
CEO of ABIVAX, said: “We are pleased to have entered into this
agreement with ExpreS2ion, as this will be a
major enabler for our ABX544 Ebola program. Ebola is a devastating
disease with no licensed vaccines or therapeutics, and ABX544 has the
potential to address the urgent need for immediate prophylaxis and
treatment during future outbreaks.”
Dr. Steen Klysner, CEO, ExpreS2ion, commented: “We are pleased that ABIVAX has chosen our ExpreS2 platform to produce the antigen required for their ABX544 Ebola programme. We see a good synergy between the ExpreS2 platform’s capability for rapid production of high quality antigens and ABIVAX' approach for ABX544 and we look forward to support the development of this first-in-class product.”
About Abivax
ABIVAX (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 –
ABVX) is an innovative biotechnology company focused on targeting the
immune system to eliminate viral disease. ABIVAX leverages three
technology platforms for drug discovery: an anti-viral, an immune
enhancement, and a polyclonal antibody platform. ABX464, its most
advanced compound, is currently in Phase II clinical trials for
providing a functional cure for patients with HIV/AIDS. It is a
first-in-class oral small anti-viral molecule which blocks HIV
replication through a unique mechanism of action and also has a strong
anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, ABIVAX is advancing a clinical
stage immune enhancer as well as multiple preclinical candidates against
additional viral targets (i.e. Chikungunya, Ebola, Dengue) and several
of these compounds are planned to enter clinical development within the
next 18 months.
About ExpreS2ion
ExpreS2ion
Biotech Holding AB (Nasdaq First North: EXPRS2; CR No. 559033-3729), has
through the wholly owned Danish subsidiary ExpreS2ion
Biotechnologies ApS, developed a platform technology enabling cost
effective and robust production of complex proteins for the development
of vaccines and diagnostics for e.g. Malaria and Zika. Since foundation
in 2010, the subsidiary has used its patented ExpreS2 platform
to produce more than 200 proteins in collaboration with research
institutions and biopharmaceutical companies, with an efficiency and
success rate superior to competing technologies.
This press release is information that ExpreS2ion is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above on December 12, 2016.