The grant comes from the Lyon Biopole Competitiveness Cluster (pole de competitivite), a French government scheme designed to promote industrial growth in the country.
This funding is expected to total the E1.3 million over the next three years and will cover 30% of the R&D costs for the program.
The grant aims at strengthening the development of Transgene’s vaccine candidate, TG4040, which is currently undergoing preclinical studies and should enter phase I/II trial by mid-2006 to treat patients not responding to standard therapy.
“We are extremely pleased to be among the very first projects selected by Lyon Biopole and to receive government financial support for the development of our innovative approach to treat patients chronically infected by hepatitis C,” stated Philippe Archinard, CEO of Transgene.