Avecia and Illumigen sign development and manufacturing agreement
UK-based Avecia has entered into an agreement with US genomics-driven drug discovery and development company Illumigen Biosciences for the process development and manufacture of Illumigen's lead development product, IB657, for the treatment of hepatitis C and other RNA viruses.
UK-based Avecia has entered into an agreement with US genomics-driven drug discovery and development company Illumigen Biosciences for the process development and manufacture of Illumigen's lead development product, IB657, for the treatment of hepatitis C and other RNA viruses.
Under the agreement, Avecia will carry out development work to optimise the drug manufacturing process and conduct initial cGMP manufacture of IB657 in its ABC1000 biologics facility in the Tees Valley, UK. This manufacturing agreement will provide Illumigen with IB657 in sufficient quantities to complete Phase 1a clinical trials in hepatitis C-infected patients. The drug is expected to enter Phase I trials in 2007.
'We are pleased to be working with Avecia on the development of an efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process for IB657,' said Dr Charles Magness, president and chief operating officer of Illumigen. 'We look forward to the successful completion of the project, and the supply of IB657 for human clinical trials.'