Italy: Abiogen Pharma S.p.A. and Philogen Srl Research Into New Biotechnological Vaccines for Hepatitis C and Tetanus.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K Abiogen Pharma SPA in Its Biotechnological Research has Committed to Philogen SRL a Development Programme On Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Tetanic 1. Of or causing tetanus 1. an acute, often fatal, infectious disease caused by a neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) produced by Clostridium tetani, whose spores enter the body through wounds. There are two forms: generalized tetanus, marked by tetanic muscular contractions and hyperreflexia, resulting in trismus (lockjaw), glottal spasm, generalized muscle spasm, opisthotonos, respiratory spasm, seizures, and paralysis; and localized tetanus, or tetany. 2. Marked by sustained muscular contractions. n. Toxin Specific Human Immunoglobulin An agent that in poisonous doses produces tonic muscular spasm. secretory immunoglobulin A IgA immunoglobulin in which two IgA molecules are linked by a polypeptide (secretory piece) and by a J chain; it is the predominant immunoglobulin. im·mu·no·glob·u·lin (  m 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 Pisa (pē`sä), city (1991 pop. 98,928), capital of Pisa prov., Tuscany, N central Italy, on the Arno River. It is now c.6 mi (9.7 km) from the Tyrrhenian Sea, which once reached the city. Pisa is a commercial and industrial center; manufactures include auto and truck parts, glass, pharmaceuticals, and processed food. 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 bisphosphonate /bis·phos·pho·nate/ (bis-fos´fo-nat) diphosphonate. (Etidronate etidronate /eti·dro·nate/ (e-ti-dro´nat) a diphosphonate compound used for treatment of osteitis deformans, heterotopic ossification, and neoplasm-associated hypercalcemia, usually as the disodium salt. Complexed with technetium 99m it is also used in bone scanning., Clodronate, Alendronate alendronate /alen·dro·nate/ (ah-len´dro-nat) a bisphosphonate calcium-regulating agent used in the form of the sodium salt to inhibit the resorption of bone in the treatment of osteitis deformans, osteoporosis, and hypercalcemia related to malignancy., Neridronate). Neridronate is the first compound Worldwide to receive the therapeutical indication in Osteogenesis osteogenesis imperfec´ta (OI) any of several types of collagen disorders, of variable inheritance, due to defective biosynthesis of type I collagen and characterized by brittle, osteoporotic, easily fractured bones; other defects are blue sclerae, wormian bones, and dentinogenesis imperfecta. 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 an·al·get·ic (  n  l-j t activity. In the antitumor field, interesting substances of biotechnological nature are under research in collaboration with international partners and Research Centres of American Universities.
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