WORCESTER, Mass., Dec. 16, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq:GNBT) (www.generex.com) and Pevion Biotech Ltd. (www.pevion.com) have signed an agreement to work together to develop next-generation vaccines and immunotherapeutic products.
The initial goal of the collaboration will be to investigate synergies in the cancer vaccine approaches of the two companies. Both companies have in-depth experience in developing immunotherapeutic vaccines for cancers. A specific focus is oncogenes over-expressed in breast, ovarian, prostate, stomach and colon cancer, as well as a variety of other malignancies. Within this collaboration, Generex wholly-owned immunotherapy subsidiary Antigen Express, Inc. combines Pevion Biotech's virosome technology with its own technology and is conducting trials in patients with breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. The combination of the two technologies will stimulate different portions of the immune system.
Pevion Biotech has developed products based upon its virosome technology to enhance the vaccine potency of various antigens. Antigen Express is developing next-generation immunotherapeutic peptides using technology to increase antigen-specific stimulation of CD4+ T helper cells. T helper cells are known to play an important role in regulating many branches of the immune system (e.g., cellular and antibody responses) and have been characterized as the 'generals' of the immune system. Virosomes are designed to interact with cells to elicit a robust immune response, as well as to deliver antigens for specific immune recognition.
"We are very pleased to be collaborating with Pevion in the development of next-generation immunotherapeutic vaccines," said Dr. Eric von Hofe, President of Antigen Express. "Virosomes have clearly shown their potential now that there are two marketed products available currently."
Rinaldo Zurbriggen, CSO of Pevion, commented: "This is a great opportunity to collaborate with qualified and experienced partners in the cancer field to advance their antigens as a potential next-generation immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer."
About Pevion Biotech
Pevion Biotech is a privately owned Swiss biopharmaceutical company focusing on the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines to prevent/treat infectious diseases and cancer. For its vaccine development, the company uses its virosome technology, which is already validated by two registered and marketed vaccines. The combination of this virosome technology with novel innovative antigens substantially reduces the known risk in biotechnological development and permits the targeting of diseases where so far no appropriate treatment is available. Pevion Biotech targets indications which represent major medical needs, including prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against breast cancer, candidiasis, RSV and hepatitis C. Three virosome-based vaccine candidates are currently in clinical development.
About Generex Biotechnology Corporation
Generex is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). The Company's proprietary liquid formulations allow drugs typically administered by injection to be absorbed into the body by the lining of the inner mouth using the Company's proprietary RapidMist(tm) device. The Company's flagship product, oral insulin (Generex Oral-lyn(tm)), which is available for sale in India and Ecuador for the treatment of subjects with Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes, is in Phase III clinical trials at several sites around the world. Antigen Express, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex. The core platform technologies of Antigen Express comprise immunotherapeutics for the treatment of malignant, infectious, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. For more information, visit the Generex website at www.generex.com or the Antigen Express website at www.antigenexpress.com.
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