The agreement will be specifically with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a department of the National Institutes of Health.
The collaborative research will combine NIAID’s expertise in influenza and vaccines with Omrix’s proprietary manufacturing and knowledge of antibody-based therapeutics.
“The signing of the CRADA represents an important opportunity for Omrix to leverage its expertise in the rapid development and deployment of antibody-based immunotherapies that address emerging viral threats,” stated Robert Taub, President and CEO of Omrix.
In addition to the avian influenza collaboration, Omrix is working with the NIAID on the clinical development of an immunotherapy product for the treatment of infection with the West Nile Virus. Omrix has received grant funding for the development of a second generation high-titer vaccinia immunoglobulin (HT-VIG) product.