BioNet Recombinant Pertussis vaccine shows safety and immunogenicity in Phase I/II Clinical Study

YOKOHAMA, Japan I October 16, 2014 I BioNet-Asia’s CEO, Dr Pham Hong Thai provided today an update on the company lead vaccine program in his presentation at BioJapan 2014. Dr Pham said that the current Phase I/II trial in Thailand showed that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic and full results will soon be published in a peer reviewed journal. BioNet Recombinant Acellular Pertussis vaccine will enter clinical Phase II/III in 2015.

Many licensed acellular pertussis vaccines have been associated to a resurgence of pertussis in developed countries. All these vaccines are inactivated by the use of chemicals which denature Pertussis Toxin, the principal antigen present in acellular vaccines. BioNet’s third-generation Pertussis vaccine is using a genetically-inactivated Pertussis Toxin which overcomes the limitations of the chemically-detoxified acellular vaccines. Hence, BioNet Recombinant Pertussis vaccine could potentially be the solution to the re-emergence of pertussis.

About Pertussis

Pertussis is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis. Although the incidence of pertussis has declined through the routine immunization of children, vaccine-induced immunity does not persist long. This phenomenon of “waning immunity” was accentuated by the introduction of acellular pertussis vaccines. There are 16 million pertussis cases worldwide each year, mainly in adolescents and adults. These therefore pass on the disease to infants who have not yet completed their pertussis immunization series, and in whom pertussis is most severe. The resurgence of pertussis calls for the replacement of current acellular vaccines and for new vaccination strategies such as adult booster and maternal immunizations.

About BioNet-Asia

BioNet-Asia is an independent vaccine company with a focus on technological innovation and market access. BioNet has built several strategic alliances fostering vaccine self-reliance leading to the production and supply of billions of doses of vaccines worldwide. In its vaccine manufacturing plant in Thailand, BioNet is developing a broad pipeline of vaccines in R&D and clinical stages, such as Recombinant Acellular Pertussis, CRM197 protein carrier, Dengue and Hepatitis B vaccines. The company has transferred the technology to produce Hib meningitis vaccine which is now commercialized as a pentavalent vaccine in Asia. BioNet is a trusted vaccine partner for product development, technology transfer and global market access.

SOURCE: BioNet-Asia