IAVI, Theraclone Expand HIV Antibody Discovery Collaboration

Theraclone and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) have expanded their HIV antibody discovery program.

Under the terms of the agreement, Theraclone would receive additional funding from IAVI to support further work isolating novel, broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to HIV. The parties will collaborate to identify new broadly neutralizing antibodies to functional epitopes on HIV. IAVI will retain the rights to develop HIV vaccines based on these antibodies, and Theraclone will retain the rights to develop therapeutics based on these antibodies.

In 2008, Theraclone was granted an award under IAVI’s Innovation Fund to test its process for isolating (from the blood of certain HIV-infected individuals) potent monoclonal antibodies to HIV that are broadly neutralizing. The Innovation Fund was co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

David Fanning, CEO of Theraclone, said: The expansion of our collaboration with IAVI is an important milestone for our company. We are very pleased to be working with the world-class science team at IAVI and the network of collaborators they have assembled as part of their Neutralizing Antibody Consortium. We are committed to our partnership with IAVI and hope to make important contributions to the design of a future antibody-based HIV vaccine.”