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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