Italy: Abiogen Pharma S.p.A. and Philogen Srl Research Into New Biotechnological Vaccines for Hepatitis C and Tetanus.

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Abiogen Pharma SPA in Its Biotechnological Research has Committed to Philogen SRL a Development Programme On Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and

Tetanic Toxin Specific Human Immunoglobulin

to be Concluded Before April 2005

The collaboration between these two young but emerging companies, foresees the eventual results to be patented with the rights of an exclusive license for Abiogen Pharma. At present the agreement is limited to the preparation of biotechnological therapeutic vaccines focused on Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Tetanus, with however, the possibility to broaden the agreement to further specific research. In fact, the availability of biotechnological vaccines represents an important advance, particularly concerning safety, with respect to the average vaccines derived from biological material.

Philogen SRL, established in 1996 from the will of Luciano Zardi and Dario Negri, is a spin-off company involving scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, and the Advanced Biotechnology Centre (CBA), Genoa. Philogen has developed a new biotechnological platform obtaining high specific and safe compounds for various infective pathologies, based on the isolation of human antibody fragments.

Recently, Philogen has acquired laboratories in Siena of vast dimensions for the production of antibodies for clinical use.

Abiogen Pharma SPA, established in Pisa in 1997 from the acquisition by Merck Sharp & Dohme of Istituto Gentili who has a history of research in Osteoarticular Metabolism, obtaining great success with the discovery of original molecules from the Bisphosphonates (Etidronate, Clodronate, Alendronate, Neridronate). Neridronate is the first compound Worldwide to receive the therapeutical indication in Osteogenesis Imperfecta as an Orphan Drug from the Italian Health Authorities. Abiogen Pharma's R&D Division is also developing some new molecules with an ansiolytic and analgetic activity. In the antitumor field, interesting substances of biotechnological nature are under research in collaboration with international partners and Research Centres of American Universities.