ImmunoVac, Inc. announces an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Baylor College of Medicine for a novel immunotherapy technologyy
Hong Kong, China and Houston, Texas - May 15, 2007 - ImmunoVac, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has entered into a license agreement with Baylor College of Medicine for the exclusive, worldwide rights to novel immunotherapy technologies developed in the laboratory of Dr. Si-Yi Chen, an investigator in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. The licensed technologies represent a cutting edge approach to immunotherapy involving the suppression of negative immune regulators.
Immunotherapeutic approaches to treat cancer and infectious disease have received a great deal of attention in the scientific and commercial communities. These therapies involve manipulation of the immune system to stimulate an immune response against a target of interest – i.e. a protein displayed on the surface of a tumor cell, for example. The Chen laboratory’s unique and novel approach extends the possibilities available for immunotherapeutic approaches by down-regulating genes that have a negative effect on an immune response. These technologies can therefore be used to strengthen a directed immune response against cancer or infectious disease.
Dr. Si-Yi Chen, the Baylor Principal Investigator, states: "The technologies developed in my laboratory act by releasing key "brakes" that would otherwise serve to limit the degree or duration of an immune response. These advances will open up new possibilities for the clinical applications of immunotherapeutic approaches. We are very excited to be working with ImmunoVac. The resources that they plan to devote to commercialize the technologies from my laboratory at Baylor will mean that these important discoveries will make it into the clinic and ultimately benefit patients."
About Baylor College of Medicine:
Baylor College of Medicine, one of the nation’s top academic health sciences centers, is committed to advancing human health through the integration of patient care, research, education, and community service.
About ImmunoVac, Inc.:
ImmunoVac, Inc., a private company funded by Morningside Venture with product development activities in both China and the United States, is focused on the development and commercialization of novel immunotherapy for cancer and infectious diseases. For more information on the Company or its products, visit the Company’s website at www.immunovac.net.
About Morningside Group:
Morningside Group (www.morningside.com) is a diversified investment group founded in 1986 by the Chan family of Hong Kong. It is engaged primarily in private equity and venture capital investments. The group has invested in biotechnology in North America since the 1990s. Morningside was one of the earliest institutional investors in China's internet industry and in recent years has been a pioneering investor in China's emerging life science sector.