ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoBio Corporation today announced a licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, for the use of its nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvant technology.
Under the agreement, Merck receives exclusive rights to NanoBio's NE adjuvant for use in an intranasal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and non-exclusive rights for use in an intranasal seasonal influenza and/or universal seasonal influenza ("Flu") vaccine. NanoBio receives an upfront payment and is eligible to receive milestone payments based on Merck RSV and Flu vaccine candidates' development and regulatory approvals, as well as royalties on sales of any Merck RSV or Flu vaccines that ultimately use the NanoBio NE adjuvant technology.
NanoBio's NanoStat® technology platform employs a novel oil-in-water nanoemulsion that can incorporate, deliver and adjuvant multiple antigen types. The NE adjuvant is effective when administered via intranasal, intramuscular or subcutaneous vaccination. In recent studies, NanoBio has demonstrated that intranasal vaccination elicits robust systemic and mucosal immunity, thereby offering enhanced protection against respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases compared to intramuscular vaccination.
"We've collaborated with Merck on research in RSV since 2011 and are very pleased to broaden our relationship with this license agreement covering vaccine candidates for two respiratory diseases," said David Peralta, chief executive officer of NanoBio. "Merck's demonstrated leadership in developing and marketing vaccines makes them an ideal partner for NanoBio."
About RSV
RSV is a highly contagious viral disease and is one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is the number one cause of childhood hospitalization both in the United States and around the world. Nearly all children are infected with the virus at least once by the age of 2-3 years. The disease is particularly dangerous for premature babies, children with other health conditions and the elderly. Many children develop pulmonary disease and/or asthma from RSV that persists throughout adult life making them susceptible to re-infection. Currently, there are no approved vaccines for RSV.
About NanoBio
NanoBio® Corporation is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing vaccines and anti-infective treatments derived from its patented NanoStat® technology platform. The platform utilizes a novel oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant to enable vaccines that elicit broad protection against disease. The company's headquarters and laboratory facilities are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information on NanoBio or its products, please visit www.nanobio.com.
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