Novavax reports progress in Indian vaccine development

Maryland, USA-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical group Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) says that CPL Biologics (CPLB), its joint venture in India with Cadila Pharmaceuticals established in 2009, has made significant progress with its vaccine-development programs in 2011 and is preparing to initiate clinical studies of vaccine candidates to prevent influenza and rabies in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

CPLB, which is 20% owned by Novavax and 80% by Cadila, was set up to combine Novavax' novel vaccine technology and Cadila's product development and manufacturing expertise to develop vaccine candidates from both companies and manufacture and market them in India. Novavax retains rights to products developed for markets outside of India.

Among the joint venture's recent achievements is the development of a rabies vaccine candidate engineered by Novavax which has shown great promise in preclinical testing. Rabies remains a significant public health hazard in India where 36% of the world's rabies deaths occur. CPLB completed positive preclinical immunogenicity studies of a rabies G-protein nanoparticle vaccine and has recently received approval from the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) to begin toxicology studies of this vaccine prior to initiating human clinical trials. The RCGM is responsible for regulating preclinical and clinical testing of recombinant vaccines, diagnostics and biologics in India.