This collaboration builds on the initial R&D conducted by Corixa and Apovia for the development of a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of hepatitis B. Lorantis has acquired all of Apovia’s interest in the hepatitis B vaccine technology and under the terms of the new agreement, Lorantis will assume many of Apovia’s development responsibilities.
The collaboration is managed by a joint management team, with Corixa taking the lead for the regulatory applications and management of all clinical trials. Lorantis will lead the completion of preclinical studies and supply the hepatitis B core antigen. The companies will share equally in all costs and potential revenues associated with the development of the vaccine.
Following proof-of-principle clinical trials, the companies intend to partner the vaccine to a late-stage development and commercialization organization.
“This partnership with Corixa should ensure that CV-1831 will be competitively developed,” said Stefan Fischer, CEO of Lorantis. “Our investment in this therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine is the first step to transform Lorantis from a research driven company into a development focused company as we build our immunology portfolio.”