The license agreement enables MycoLogics to enter into proof of concept pre-clinical testing of human and animal candidate vaccines targeting the fungal diseases aspergillosis, coccidioidmycosis, cryptococcosis and the disease leishmaniasis. Both fungal and parasite R&D projects are fully supported by NIH awards.
Tarmogens are whole, heat-killed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genetically modified to express one or more protein antigens that stimulate the immune system against diseased cells. Tarmogens are avidly taken up by the cells that activate the immune system called antigen presenting cells, to stimulate a T cell response against the desired target or targets.
GlobeImmune’s patented Tarmogen platform has a number of advantages over current approaches, including that Tarmogens generate potent T cell immune responses, are not neutralized by the immune system, can be rapidly engineered and are simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
“Tarmogens represent a potent new technology with broad potential,” said Dr Claude Selitrennikoff, president and CEO of MycoLogics, “this agreement allows us to go forward with the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for treatment of a number of fungal and parasitic diseases.”