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Novartis signs CMV vaccine deal
29 Dec 2008
Clinical Research
Novartis has signed a multimillion-dollar deal with AlphaVax to license a vaccine programme for Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
The firm acquired the rights to the research project for $20 million (£14 million), to add to its portfolio of novel vaccines, which it hopes will produce immunisations for a number of fatal diseases.
AlphaVax remains responsible for the conclusion of phase-one research and Novartis will take over clinical trials at the phase-two stage.
There are currently no approved vaccines for CMV, which affects around 86,000 newborn children in the US and the EU every year, leading to 700 deaths and leaving 17,500 youngsters severely disabled.
"We are happy to gain access to a promising vaccine candidate for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infections, which are particularly problematic during pregnancy as they can cause permanent disability in newborns," said Dr Andrin Oswald, chief executive officer of Novartis vaccines and diagnostics.
Earlier this month, Novartis received US Food and Drug Administration approval for Gilvec, a post-surgery treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
