Drug major Sun Pharma today announced a new collaboration with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for development of dengue vaccine targeted against all four serotypes of the virus.
This is the second collaboration between Sun Pharma and ICGEB focusing on dengue. The first one was related to the development of a botanical drug for treatment of dengue.
As per the agreement, Sun Pharma will fund and support further development of the vaccine candidate and existing ICGEB know-how and patents, Sun Pharma and ICGEB said.
ICGEB will grant Sun Pharma exclusive rights and licences for development and commercialisation of this vaccine globally, they added.
"Healthcare industry is all about innovation. We are now looking at prevention of dengue. Our partnership is for developing a novel, safe, effective and affordable preventive vaccine," Sun Pharma Executive V-P and Head, Global Business Development, Kirti Ganorkar told reporters here.
The new collaboration with ICGEB for developing an affordable dengue vaccine is part of the broader commitment for developing new and improved vaccines and drugs against flaviviruses that are of significant health importance to India and rest of the world, he added.
"Our decision to partner with ICGEB on dengue vaccine programme followed extensive due diligence and expert consultations on existing dengue vaccine programmes globally," Ganorkar said.
ICGEB has conducted pre-clinical studies over the past seven years and developed the existing know-how and patents for this dengue vaccine candidate.
"Our pre-clinical data is very encouraging and this could be an ideal dengue vaccine candidate for all target populations," ICGEB Director Dinakar Salunke said.
A joint development committee comprising members of both the organisations will be set up to provide oversight to the dengue vaccine development programme, ICGEB and Sun Pharma said in a joint statement.
As per the agreement, "ICGEB will receive pre-defined royalty and milestone payments".
"ICGEB shall disclose and make available to Sun Pharma all such existing ICGEB know-how as well as effective completion of technology transfer by ICGEB to Sun Pharma within stipulated timeframe," the statement added.
Sun Pharma will explore commercialisation opportunities to provide this vaccine to patients across India, emerging markets, Western Europe, Japan and USA at affordable costs post regulatory approvals in these markets.
The company will use its in-house expertise as well as that of its associate company, ARTES Biotechnology GmbH, in development of dengue vaccine, Sun Pharma said.
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