vaccine
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19 October 2016Asia

Sun Pharma collaborates with ICGEB to develop dengue vaccine

Indian pharmaceutical company Sun Pharma and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) have entered into an exclusive collaboration to develop a novel dengue vaccine for India and global markets.

ICGEB, an international, non-profit research organisation, has conducted pre-clinical studies over the past seven years and developed the know-how and patents for the vaccine candidate.

The collaboration focuses on developing a “novel, safe and effective” vaccine for the prevention of dengue.

Under the agreement, signed today, October 19, Sun Pharma will finance and support further development of the vaccine candidate and existing ICGEB know-how and patents.

ICGEB will grant Sun Pharma exclusive rights and licences for the development and commercialisation of this vaccine globally.

Kirti Ganorkar, head of global business development at Sun Pharma, said: “Our new collaboration with ICGEB for developing an affordable dengue vaccine is part of our 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 the dengue vaccine programme followed extensive due diligence and expert consultations on existing dengue vaccine programmes globally.”

Dinakar Salunke, director of ICGEB, said in a statement: “Despite recent approval of a dengue vaccine and several candidates being at an advanced stage of clinical trials, the development of a safe, affordable and efficacious dengue vaccine still faces major challenges.

“I am pleased that the dengue vaccine development programme, led by Navin Khanna at ICGEB, is now proceeding to the clinical development phase with Sun Pharma.”

This is the second collaboration between Sun Pharma and ICGEB focusing on dengue. The first, announced in May, was related to the development of a botanical drug for the treatment of dengue.