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news.hVIVO has made an investment in the UK-based start-up, PrEP Biopharm, to further develop new prophylactic treatment for respiratory infections.
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The other investors in PrEP Biopharm include Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC and US-based angel investors.
hVIVO will acquire a significant interest in PrEP Biopharm for £14m, and PrEP will contract hVIVO Services to handle a £10m phase IIa clinical programme of work on its PrEP-001 compound in 2015 and 2016.
PrEP-001 is a nasally administered, broad-spectrum agent that uses the innate immune system to avoid upper respiratory tract viral infections
Janssen carried out a proof of concept study of the PrEP-001 compound in 2013-14 using hVIVO’s platform.
PrEP will take the compound’s development forward and develop infectious disease products and technologies licensed from Janssen.
The company will carry out phase IIa studies in flu and asthma patients, further using the hVIVO platform’s speed of trial conduct and ability to generate clear efficacy signals.
hVIVO CEO Kym Denny said: "Working closely with PrEP, we look forward to leveraging the hVIVO platform to its full potential, accelerating PrEP-001 through its clinical development in order to reach patients soonest."