ImmunoVaccine Technologies partners with Scancell to advance DNA
vaccine delivery
17 August 2009
ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc. (IVT), a Canadian vaccine development
company, has signed an agreement with UK-based Scancell Ltd., the
operating company of Scancell Holdings Plc (SCLP.PL), which is
developing therapeutic cancer and infectious disease vaccines.
This research agreement will explore the potential of using IVT's
DepoVax delivery system for Scancell's novel ImmunoBody DNA vaccines.
"Scancell is developing an exciting DNA vaccine technology and we are
delighted to enter into this collaboration," remarked Dr. Marc Mansour,
vice president of R&D at IVT. "Our DepoVax technology has the potential
to better deliver DNA vaccines to draining lymph nodes to produce high
levels of immune response using conventional immunisation techniques."
"IVT's DepoVax represents a potentially attractive future delivery
system for our ImmunoBody DNA vaccines, especially those for certain
infectious diseases where alternative delivery methods such as
electroporation may be less suitable." commented David Evans, chairman
of Scancell.
DNA-based vaccines have gained popularity due to promising results,
their relative ease of manufacture and potential for enhanced stability.
There is currently a need for simple alternative methods of delivering
DNA vaccines
DepoVaxis a vaccine-enhancement and delivery platform comprised of
liposomes, adjuvants and oil. DepoVax enhances the immunogenicity of
antigens in general, and can be used to dramatically enhance the
delivery of polynucleotide-based antigens and SiRNA to lymph nodes. IVT
has proven its scale-up capabilities at a contract manufacturing plant,
making DepoVax amenable to commercialisation.
ImmunoVaccine Technologies continues to strengthen its vaccine
pipeline through licensing and strategic partnering to develop
therapeutic cancer and infection disease vaccines. In 2008, Pfizer
Animal Health licensed its proprietary vaccine delivery technology for
two livestock vaccines. It has also entered into partnerships with LIAI,
NIH, Yokohoma City University, Defence Research & Development Canada,
FIT Biotech, and Immunotope Inc.
Scancell is developing novel therapeutic vaccines for the treatment
of cancer and infectious diseases based on its groundbreaking ImmunoBody
technology platform. Scancell's first cancer vaccine SCIB1 is being
developed for the treatment of melanoma and will enter clinical trials
using electroporation technology in early 2010.
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