Malaysia's Bioven to commercialize Cuban cancer vaccine; seeks AIM listing

Malaysian biotechnology firm Bioven, which is conducting Phase III clinical trials on a promising vaccine against cancer made in Cuba, wants to create and finance a quoting office in London after a fruitful collaboration with Cuba, reports the Prensa Latina news agency.

The Cuban relation with Bioven, of which the Malaysian government is one of its greatest stockholders, is an example of the South-South collaboration, said Eltnard Blanco, commercial manager for Cuban commercializing enterprise CIMAB, which belongs to the Molecular Immunology of Cuba (CIM) of Cuba, which created the Cuban vaccine.

Since 2008, through an agreement with the CIM, Bioven is conducting the clinical development of the Cuban vaccine in Europe and parts of Asia and Oceania, said Mr Blanco. The drug is a type of immunotherapy that targets proteins called EGF (epidermal growth factor) over-expressing cancer cells. It targets cancer cells non-small lung cancer.

Bioven has moved the drug into a larger post-test, and Stephen Drew, chief executive, said that the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the junior market of London Stock Exchange, can help speed up the commercial thrust.

Phase III testing, the last before seeking regulatory approval - began in May with the participation of 419 patients 10 countries. Much of clinical development work is being done in Scotland, in collaboration with the Cancer Beatson Institute in Glasgow.