The chemically synthesized adjuvant will be tested by Sanofi Pasteur to determine its ability to enhance the immune response to a broad range of vaccines.
Under the terms of the agreement, Eisai will provide a license to sanofi pasteur to incorporate the E6020 adjuvant for use in vaccines throughout all geographical regions.
In return Eisai will receive upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalty payments on product sales. Sanofi pasteur will commercialize the adjuvanted vaccines developed in this collaboration. Further financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines business of the Sanofi-Aventis group, sold nearly a billion doses of vaccine in 2004, enough to protect more than 500 million people worldwide.