|
Biovax
Overview
BioVax is an Australian, early stage development biopharmaceutical
company focussing on the development of immunotherapeutics for the
treatment of HIV/AIDS, cancers, TB, Hepatitis C and other infectious
diseases. Biovax’s patented technology exploits the ability
to synthetically scramble the genes from infectious agents and cancer;
following delivery by a carrier or vector to enhance and direct
the responses of the body's own immune system. This approach has
application to a broad range of human diseases including many infectious
diseases and cancers and can genuinely be described as a "platform
technology". BioVax has named this platform technology SAVINE™.
Competitive
Advantages
The company's core SAVINE™ technology is a method for stimulating
and enhancing the performance of the body's immune system by synthetically
constructing vaccines from the genes of infectious agents and 'scrambling'
these antigens in a vaccine vector in such a way not to destroy
immunological epitopes (antigens). Antigens are identification segments
on tissue or foreign cells and they are usually specific for that
particular cell type e.g. HIV/AIDS. Antigen genes are the fragments
of DNA that encode for and facilitate production (or expression)
of antigens. A variety of "constructs" is possible using
standard techniques of molecular biology to scramble the antigen
genes. In this way constructs can be tailored to cause the immune
system to respond to specific types of viral or bacterial invasions
or even cancers which frequently have their own tumor specific surface
antigens (which the immune system can use to target the tumor).
The technology enables multiple scrambled genes to be expressed
thus one can produce a universal AIDS vaccine or one encoding multiple
strains of hepatitis C. By destroying the biological properties
of the proteins and genes a significant safety factor is factored
into the vaccine, thus immunogenic oncogenes can safely be delivered.
Technology
The company's core SAVINE™ technology is a method for stimulating
and enhancing the performance of the body's immune system by synthetically
constructing vaccines from the genes of infectious agents and 'scrambling'
these antigens in a vaccine vector.
Antigens are identification segments on tissue or foreign cells
and they are usually specific for that particular cell type e.g.
HIV/AIDS. Antigen genes are the fragments of DNA that encode for
and facilitate production (or expression) of antigens.
A variety of "constructs" is possible using standard
techniques of molecular biology to scramble the antigen genes. In
this way constructs can be tailored to cause the immune system to
respond to specific types of viral or bacterial invasions or even
cancers which frequently have their own tumor specific surface antigens
(which the immune system can use to target the tumor).
Because of this versatility the technology is broadly applicable
in the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and cancers
and can genuinely be described as a "platform technology".
Corporate
Alliances/Partnerships
Partners
Partners Biovax has partnered with a clinical trial network to test
immunotherapeutic vaccines in clinical trial. Biovax also has GMP
manufacturing capability for early Phase I/II clinical trial.
Partnering Needs
BioVax is actively pursuing a strategic alliance or co-development
partner from amongst the leading biopharmaceutical companies to
further develop its technology in selected areas of application
("fields of use") where it believes it can best leverage
local expertise and resources e.g. in the treatment areas of HIV/AIDS,
cancer, other infectious diseases.
The "Platform" nature of the technology being developed
by BioVax affords the Company the ability to partner or license
selectively for individual fields of use, potentially to a range
of development partners, and to tailor its collaborative relationships
to take best advantage of its ability to contribute to the value
adding later stages of the development process. Access to specific
immunological, clinical development and manufacturing skills in
a particular disease area is a prerequisite for a useful contribution
to the later stage development process.
BioVax will seek to license outright in those areas or fields of
use where the Company has access to limited expertise or resources
to contribute to the later stage development process
| Contact Person |
Dr Ian A Ramshaw |
 |
| Job Title |
CEO |
| Address |
Innovations Building,
Australian National University |
| City/Suburb |
Canberra
ACT 2601 Australia |
| Email |
ian.ramshaw@anu.edu.au |
| Phone |
+61 2 6125 3623 |
| Fax |
+61 2 6247 8921 |
| Website Address |
www.biovax.com.au |
back
|
