Dive Brief:
- ProMed BioSciences, a Hong Kong joint venture between Profectus BioSciences and MediSun Holdings, has been formed to develop and launch preventive and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer across Asia, based on Profectus' vaccine platform and clinical-stage pipeline.
- The joint venture should be up and running in the second half of 2018, and the first program will focus on Profectus' vaccine to treat human papillomavirus-associated lesions and cancers.
- Other planned programs will include vaccines to prevent and/or treat diseases caused by hepatitis C, hepatitis B, herpes simplex, respiratory syncytial, human immunodeficiency, chikungunya and Zika viruses, as well as personalized vaccines to treat cancer.
Dive Insight:
The global human papillomavirus vaccine market is expected to grow by more than 4% between 2018 and 2023, according to a report distributed by Market Research Hub. This increase is driven by rising awareness of the impact of HPV-associated diseases.
Profectus BioSciences' focus is on vaccines for chronic infectious disease and associated cancers, oncolytic vaccines, and emerging infectious diseases of public health and biodefense importance, based around its PBS Vax discovery engine. The joint venture with MediSun will focus on vaccines that have particular applications for unmet needs in infectious disease and cancer in Asia.
"ProMed BioSciences will leverage Profectus' expertise in vaccine development and technologies and MediSun's local expertise and broad connections with Hong Kong and Chinese medical communities and government regulators to develop vaccines that deliver cutting-edge prevention and treatment to patients throughout Asia," said Danny Wong, chair of Medisun Holdings, in a statement.
As well as providing an Asian base and expertise for U.S. company Profectus, the deal will help with the expansion of MediSun clinical trial centers in Asia.
Profectus isn't the only company with an eye on immunotherapy for HPV in Asia. In January this year, Inovio Pharmaceuticals expanded its deal with Chinese company ApolloBio, granting ApolloBio exclusive rights to Inovio's HPV immunotherapy within Greater China, in return for an additional $8 million in cash. VGX-3100, in Phase 3 trials in the U.S., is in development for the treatment of HPV-related pre-cancerous lesions.