In March 2004, Aeras and Crucell entered into a collaborative agreement for the development of a PER.C6 and AdVac-based TB vaccine. The vaccine entered the phase I clinical trial in October 2006.
“This technology, which is based on one of the most advanced vector delivery systems for induction of cellular immunity, represents an important part of the portfolio of vaccines we are developing against tuberculosis,” said Dr Jerald Sadoff, president & CEO of Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation.
The AdVac technology is specifically designed to manage the problem of pre-existing immunity in humans against the most commonly used recombinant vaccine vector, adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5), without compromising large-scale production capabilities or the immunogenic properties of Ad5.
All vaccine candidates based on AdVac are produced using Crucell's PER.C6 production technology. Crucell's PER.C6 technology is a cell line developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products.