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MediVas and
Pacific GMP Announce Collaboration on Novel Therapeutic Vaccines
San Diego, CA -- January 08, 2007 -- PacificGMP, Inc., and MediVas,
LLC, announced today that they have formed a collaborative effort to develop a
commercial scale production process for Medivas’ next generation subunit vaccine
utilizing Medivas’s novel amino acid-based Poly(Ester Amide) copolymers (PEA).
MediVas’ polymers are the first of a new generation of absorbable and
biocompatible drug and biologic delivery platforms. Under this collaboration,
PacificGMP will work with MediVas in developing the capability of manufacturing
large quantities of subunit vaccines to protect against such diseases as
seasonal and pandemic influenza, among many other potential candidates.
PacificGMP will utilize its expertise in disposable bioprocessing and its unique
technology to scale up the production process and manufacturing for MediVas’
initial candidates. Use of this disposable bioprocessing technology will allow
for faster production, with greatly reduced overall manufacturing costs. This
process also mitigates the possibility for cross-contamination in production
which should ultimately result in vaccines that will be available to the public
in a much shorter time period.
MediVas' infectious disease and immunology platforms include rapid response
formulations for next generation vaccines. MediVas’ lead preventative vaccine
program represents a novel process to develop and manufacture vaccines for both
seasonal and pandemic influenza. In addition, the Company is also developing
therapeutic vaccines with a lead program targeted against certain cancers.
“We continue to advance our capabilities in developing
important next-generation biocompatible drug delivery solutions," said Kenneth
Carpenter, President and CEO of MediVas. "We are confident in our ability to
create innovative new drug delivery technologies across multiple therapeutic
areas. PacificGMP is ideally suited to allow us to take the next step and bring
our new therapeutic technology into the clinic and then into the public sphere”.
“PacificGMP is excited to assist MediVas with this
important project. We anticipate that production of Medivas’ subunit vaccines
in disposable closed systems will be a significant milestone in the development
of rapid response formulations for next generation vaccines. We are delighted
to announce this collaboration and to assist MediVas in moving forward with this
novel technology,” said Leigh Pierce, President of PacificGMP.
About MediVas: Using its proprietary family of
biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, MediVas has developed a
next-generation platform for the delivery of biologics. MediVas is utilizing
its novel polymer technology in collaboration with some of the world's largest
pharmaceutical companies, as well as on its own internal product development
efforts, to create groundbreaking medical advancements. The more than $50
billion biologics market is the next frontier in medicine and MediVas is
uniquely poised to take advantage of this growing space. By combining
therapeutic proteins and other biologics with a MediVas polymer, delivery routes
that were previously unimaginable, such as oral, intranasal, inhaled or
subcutaneous injection, can become a reality. By opening up these delivery
routes, MediVas’ delivery system can make the administration of the biologic
more convenient, more efficacious and safer, leading to higher patient
compliance and overall better health.
About PacificGMP: PacificGMP is a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO)
that specializes in the development and manufacturing of biologics using
disposable technology. PacificGMP has extensive experience in process
development and production of antibodies, recombinant proteins, gene therapy and
vaccine products. PacificGMP assists drug developers through the early stages of
process design, development and scale-up, to pre-clinical and clinical
manufacturing.
Contact:
MediVas, LLC
Victor E. Vilaplana
Director, Business Development
(858) 622-2005
vvilaplana@medivas.com © MediVas, LLC
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