Vaccines collaborations by Biovest and US Army and by ARTES and Crucell

USA-based Biovest International (OTCQB: BVTI), a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals (OTCQB: ABPI), has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) to further develop Biovest’s hollow fiber perfusion bioreactors as a flexible and modular manufacturing platform for the rapid, robust and cost-effective production of medical countermeasures to emerging and genetically engineered infectious diseases.

This CRADA utilizes Biovest’s hollow fiber technology for production of vaccines, virus-like particles (VLPs) and antibodies for treatment and prevention of filovirus diseases including those caused by Ebola and Marburg viruses.

According to Biovest’s consulting medical advisor, David Gangemi, Professor Emeritus, Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Clemson University, “Biovest’s collaboration with USAMRIID is part of a large US government priority investment to become fully prepared for the swift and efficient delivery of medical countermeasures to highly infectious agents including avian and swine influenza, and other emerging diseases. Expanding on the positive influenza virus data generated under Biovest’s CRADA with the Naval Health Research Center, our collaboration with Army’s infectious disease research team aims to demonstrate the utility and agility of Biovest’s hollow fiber bioreactors to propagate infectious virus for vaccine production and to validate the production of VLPs and virus neutralizing antibodies.”