Big, Big News!!!
Bharat Biotech International ties up with Novavax
To develop pandemic influenza vaccine for the Indian and ASEAN markets
Monday, March 06, 2006
HYDERABAD: In order to develop pandemic influenza vaccine for the Indian and ASEAN markets, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International has entered into an agreement with American firm Novavax Inc.
The alliance enables Novavax access to pre-clinical and clinical data apart from the royalty on sales. Bharat Biotech, on the other hand, will fund the pre-clinical and clinical development. It will also have the responsibility for the commercialization of the vaccine.
Clinical testing to develop the vaccine would commence towards the end of the year. ``The partnership would help India develop a highly efficacious vaccine against pandemic flu and stand at the forefront in developing a prophylaxis against the dreaded pandemic,'' hoped Krishna M Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech.
Eminent scientist Richard Klausner will be the chairman of the steering committee that will be oversee the partnership.
Speaking about the alliance, Klausner, former director of the US National Cancer Institute said: ``I'm confident that by combining their mutual capabilities and working closely with the Department of Biotechnology, they will be more effective in arriving at a solution.'' Rahul Singhvi, president and CEO of Novavax, who was also present at the announcement, hoped that the partnership will result in speed up the development process.
``By leveraging the clinical process and manufacturing capabilities of Bharat Biotech, we will expedite the development and regulatory approval of our VLP-based avian flu vaccines around the world,'' said Singhvi.
Best,
Terry |
