As DKFZ’s HPV vaccine candidate based on Osivax’s technology platform (OVX313) reports promising pre-clinical results, a second license agreement was signed
Lyon, France – April 17, 2018 – Osivax, a biopharmaceutical company currently focused on the development of a universal influenza vaccine candidate, announced today the reinforcement of its collaboration with the world-renowned German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ – Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), based in Heidelberg. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Following a 2-year evaluation of OVX313 technology, a first license agreement was signed in April 2017 and DKFZ started the pre-clinical development of an OVX313-based vaccine candidate to prevent Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
The preclinical results suggest that the vaccine can protect against almost 99 percent of HPV-related cervical cancer cases. In addition, the vaccine might also protect against other HPV strains causing skin diseases, oral and anal cancers (for further information on these results: http://idw-online.de/de/news692151) . The aim of this promising vaccine candidate is to significantly improve the still insufficiently high HPV vaccination rates, especially in low income countries. Now that the pre-clinical efficacy has been demonstrated, the project is about to enter the clinical testing phase and the centre secured some funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research and the Helmholtz Association to launch the clinical development.
Osivax and DKFZ have therefore decided to extend their license agreement, and DKFZ will move forward in the clinical development of this OVX313-based HPV vaccine candidate.
“These very promising preclinical results of the DKFZ’s HPV vaccine candidate reinforces the confidence we have in our technological platform OVX313 and its ability to trigger powerful immune responses against associated antigens,” said Alexandre Le Vert, chief executive officer of Osivax. “We are pleased to reinforce our collaboration with the DKFZ as they are about to start the clinical evaluation of this HPV vaccine.”
“Our objective is to increase the immunization rates against HPV worldwide, especially in countries with limited resources,” says Martin Müller, director of the Research Group Tumorvirus-specific Vaccination Strategies at DKFZ. “Our new, heat-stable vaccine based on OVX313 technology is cheap to produce and demonstrated protection against almost all carcinogenic HPV types in preclinical studies, it’s a first big step to serve our objective and launch the clinical development.”
About Osivax
Osivax’s mission is to revolutionize influenza prevention with a universal flu vaccine for both current and future Influenza A and B infections by leveraging its unique oligoDOM® technology platform. The most advanced candidate, a broad-spectrum A-strain flu vaccine is in Phase 1 clinical development. Osivax is focused on providing proof-of-concept in Influenza A firstly to save lives and secondly to lay the groundwork for a universal flu vaccine as well as apply the platform to other infectious and immune system-associated diseases. For further information: www.osivax.com