Vical and AnGes collaborate to develop treatment for Ebola
Aim to commercialise an equine polyclonal antibody therapy in Japan
US biotechnology company Vical is to collaborate with AnGes of Japan to develop and commercialise an equine polyclonal antibody treatment for Ebola. No medicines or vaccines are currently approved for the treatment of Ebola.
Unlike prophylactic vaccines, which require widespread vaccinations, multiple doses and time to mount a protective immune response prior to exposure, polyclonal antibody therapy offers a more targeted approach of providing immediate immune globulin as a treatment against Ebola. Therapeutic approaches using equine polyclonal antibodies have been used for the treatment of viral diseases such as rabies, bacterial toxins such as tetanus and diphtheria, as well as black widow spider venom.
The companies aim to isolate antibodies from horses immunised with a DNA vaccine encoding an Ebola virus glycoprotein antigen. The antibodies will be purified and developed for the treatment of humans.
Under the agreement, Vical will develop and provide AnGes with a DNA vaccine encoding the glycoprotein antigen of the 2014 Zaire strain of Ebola virus, formulated with Vical's Vaxfectin adjuvant.
AnGes will receive the exclusive right to develop and commercialise the equine polyclonal antibody therapy in Japan and will be responsible for all development costs.
We believe that the equine polyclonal antibody therapy can contribute to the measures against Ebola in Japan
Vical will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive royalties on net sales and a percentage of payments received by AnGes under any sub-licensing agreements.
'We are pleased to have the opportunity to contribute Vical's resources and capabilities to the global fight against Ebola,' said Larry Smith, Vical's Vice President of Vaccine Research.
'Therapeutic interventions may be the best near-term solution for dealing with the Ebola epidemic. And historical use of polyclonal antibodies bodes well for this approach.'
Ei Yamada, President and CEO of AnGes, added: 'We believe that the equine polyclonal antibody therapy can contribute to the measures against Ebola in Japan. Thanks to Vical, we will soon start an initial study in Japan for the purpose of collecting data and optimising the production process.'
According to the World Health Organization, as of 31 December 2014, more than 20,000 cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported in nine countries, with the vast majority in the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
