Janssen enters R&D collaboration with vaccine leader, GlycoVaxyn

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson &amp, Johnson, has signed an exclusive license agreement and entered into a three-year research and development collaboration with Swiss-company and leader in the development of innovative vaccines, GlycoVaxyn.

The aim of the three-year R&amp,D collaboration is to develop a multi-valent bacterial vaccine employing GlycoVaxyn’s bio-conjugation technology.

“Bacterial pathogens that exist in multiple pathogenic strains pose significant challenges for developing vaccines that target these strains. Our recombinant DNA-based vaccine technology is particularly well-suited for polyvalent conjugate vaccines and should make the development and commercialization of these vaccines more feasible and reliable.”

Michael Wacker, co-founder and chief scientific officer of GlycoVaxyn.

GlycoVaxyn will collaborate with Janssen’s affiliate, Crucell Holland BV, on the development of the multi-valent vaccine until proof-of-concept, after which Janssen will be responsible for later-stage clinical studies and world-wide commercialization. The consideration to GlycoVaxyn includes an upfront payment, milestone payments, royalties as well as reimbursement of research and development expenses. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.