Crucell reports early-stage success with TB vaccine

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Shares of Crucell jumped after the developer announced that an early-stage trial of an experimental tuberculosis vaccine demonstrated a promising immune response in volunteers. The Dutch biotech is teamed up with the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation and the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative in advancing AERAS-402/Crucell Ad35. And a third early-stage vaccine trial is underway in South Africa, which has an extraordinarily high rate of the disease. The currently used vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, was developed 85 years ago, but is regarded as largely ineffective against pulmonary TB.

"While preliminary, these results are promising. We are pleased that Crucell's technologies are playing a key role in the search and development of a much-needed TB vaccine," said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, chief scientific officer at Crucell. "We highly value the collaboration with Aeras and SATVI on this important mission."

- see the release
- read this report

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Sanofi licenses technology for new TB vaccine

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Sanofi Pasteur has struck a licensing deal with the Statens Serum Institut of Denmark covering the use of its technology for a new tuberculosis vaccine. The pact includes SSI's Intercell IC31 adjuvant and the use of certain fusion proteins. SSI TB vaccine candidates are recombinant protein sub-units, including one currently in a Phase I clinical trial. Results from a previous study showed the SSI TB vaccine technology provided a positive immune response. TB kills two million people a year.

"This agreement is a milestone for Sanofi Pasteur," said Wayne Pisano, president and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur, which is also working to develop a vaccine against another one of the biggest global infectious disease killers--malaria. "The current medical arsenal is inadequate for fighting tuberculosis."

- read the press release

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