SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SWIFTWATER, Pa., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Eos Biotechnology and Aventis Pasteur today announced that a two-year collaboration to identify unique cancer vaccine targets has resulted in Aventis Pasteur exercising its options to develop up to five of these targets. Under terms of the agreement, Aventis Pasteur is granted the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize vaccines using these unique targets discovered by Eos Biotechnology.
Using its proprietary technologies and integrated genomics-based approach, Eos analyzed selected cancer tissues and identified intracellular targets that could enable the development of safe and effective cancer vaccines. Aventis Pasteur will apply its recognized expertise and resources to pre-clinical and clinical development, and to the commercialization of developed products. Eos' own extended therapeutic programs are focused on developing antibodies, and Aventis Pasteur's approach continues to focus on vaccines.
"The exercise of these options signals Aventis Pasteur's commitment to leverage high quality genomic information in the development of new and improved vaccines," said Neil Berinstein, M.D., Assistant Vice President, Clinical Oncology, Program Director, Cancer for Aventis Pasteur.
David Martin, M.D., CEO, Eos Biotechnology said, "We are very pleased that Aventis Pasteur has exercised its options to continue the pursuit of these unique cancer vaccine targets, which may play a critical role in the creation of effective vaccines against this important disease. Aventis Pasteur is the company with the experience and resources to make cancer vaccines a reality."
About Aventis Pasteur:
Aventis Pasteur SA is the largest company in the world devoted entirely to vaccines. In 2001, Aventis Pasteur produced 1.3 billion doses of vaccine, making it possible to protect 500 million people across the globe, which is over one million per day. The company offers the broadest range of vaccines, providing protection against 19 bacterial and viral diseases. Based in Lyon, France, Aventis Pasteur is owned by Aventis SA.
The company is a leader in the research and development of therapeutic vaccines for cancer. The two leading cancer vaccines currently in clinical development are for colorectal cancer and melanoma, and the company is actively pursuing additional cancer targets. The corporation's global cancer vaccine program is anchored in Canada.
Aventis (NYSE: AVE - News) is dedicated to improving life by treating and preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative prescription drugs for important therapeutic areas as well as human vaccines. In 2001, Aventis generated sales of euro 17.7 billion, invested euro 3 billion in research and development and employed approximately 75,000 people in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit www.aventis.com and www.aventispasteur.com
About Eos:
Eos is a privately held biotechnology company based in South San Francisco. Using its proprietary, leading-edge genomic technologies and best-of-breed research tools, the company has developed an integrated approach for identifying novel disease targets and developing highly specific antibodies against them. The company's first therapeutic antibody IND, for Eos200-4, was filed last year, and the antibody is directed against a cellular target molecule identified by the company's proprietary genomics platform. Eos has a pipeline of over 30 other therapeutic targets and in many cases, cognate antibodies rapidly moving towards the clinic. Eos expects to continue to develop some of these outright and others in partnership with biopharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.eosbiotech.com |
