GC Biopharma (006280) is developing a next-generation influenza vaccine designed to work broadly against multiple viral strains, in partnership with Osivax, a French biotech company specializing in vaccine development.
GC Biopharma said on the 28th that it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with Osivax to develop and commercialize the vaccine. The two companies plan to create a combination vaccine that delivers GC Biopharma's flu vaccine GC Flu and Osivax's influenza A vaccine candidate OVX836 in a single injection.
GC Flu targets hemagglutinin (HA), a surface antigen of the influenza virus, to induce a B-cell antibody response. It has also received prequalification (PQ) certification from the World Health Organization. OVX836 is a recombinant protein vaccine candidate targeting nucleoprotein (NP), an internal viral protein that mutates relatively little, and triggers a strong T-cell immune response.
By combining these two different immune mechanisms, the companies aim to provide broad, long-lasting protection against novel influenza strains as well as seasonal flu. Osivax will handle global development and commercialization, while GC Biopharma has secured exclusive domestic commercialization rights and long-term supply rights for GC Flu. A GC Biopharma official said the company had built a diversified business model that can generate additional revenue, including royalties, once the vaccine is commercialized.
Huh Eun-chul, chief executive of GC Biopharma, said the two companies would combine their expertise to develop a combination vaccine that addresses unmet needs in seasonal flu prevention. He added that he expects the partnership to serve as a springboard for expanding into major advanced markets while strengthening the company's position at home.
