Microscience now able to deliver DNA vaccines orally.

2002 OCT 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Microscience - a British biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of vaccines - has entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University System of Maryland (USM).

This grants them access to USM's Bactofection DNA vaccine technology, which will make it possible to deliver DNA vaccines orally.

The company will apply the rights acquired to the delivery of DNA from a live bacterial vector in all fields, except HIV antigens, which have been retained by USM. Microscience will now be in a position to use their oral delivery system spi-VEC (their proprietary bacterial vector) to facilitate delivery of many different DNA antigens (DNA molecules encoding an antigen). Taken orally spi-VEC vaccines induce a strong mucosal and systemic response.

DNA antigens delivered by spi-VEC will be developed by Microscience as vaccines to treat cancer and viral disease and also to prevent bacterial infections. This new license gives rights to Microscience under patents already granted in the U.S. and Europe.

Rod Richards, CEO of Microscience, said, "This license gives us a unique opportunity to expand the potential of our spi-VEC oral delivery platform which will now be utilized to develop a range of DNA vaccines. This complements our current oral spi-VEC vaccines in development and gives Microscience the opportunity to enter the important and commercially attractive area of cancer vaccines."

Microscience will pay USM - which has entered the agreement through its constituents the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) and the University of Maryland Baltimore - an upfront license fee, plus milestones and royalties if the products ...