Oxford-Emergent venture gains $16M for TB vaccine trial

The University of Oxford and Emergent BioSolutions have formed a joint venture--The Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium--to further develop MVA85A, an experimental vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis. The Consortium, which obtained an exclusive license from the university to develop the therapy, has secured about $16 million from The Wellcome Trust and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation to fund a Phase IIb trial.

"I am excited by the prospect of further development of this promising vaccine candidate," said Helen McShane, a Wellcome Trust senior clinical research fellow at Oxford University and original developer of the TB vaccine. "We at Oxford have selected Emergent BioSolutions as our commercial partner given their vaccine development experience and dedication to bringing lifesaving vaccines to market."

- check out this release
- read the report from the Washington Business Journal

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