Paris, June 12, 2017 18: 00 (CEST) – ABIVAX (Euronext Paris : FR0012333284 – ABVX) is a biotechnology company targeting the immune system to eliminate viral diseases based on its technology platforms unique. ABIVAX today announced that Bpifrance and the Region of Occitania/Pyrenees-Mediterranean have agreed to grant a loan of 390 000 to the company for the development of polyclonal antibodies against the Ebola virus.
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“We are excited to receive this additional loan from Bpifrance. It will be a catalyst for the development of our program against Ebola on the molecule ABX544, ” says the Pr. Hartmut J. Ehrlich, M. D., ceo of ABIVAX. “Ebola is a devastating disease for which there is no therapeutic treatment marketed, and ABX544 has the potential to address the urgent need for preventative or curative therapies in future epidemics “.
With this new program, Bpifrance and the Region of Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean will give a loan of 390 000 to ABIVAX for its program against Ebola, which aims to develop polyclonal antibodies from rabbit, directed against the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP). This loan is specifically dedicated to the implementation of a process of production and purification of GP and specific IgG antibodies of rabbits immunized, as well as studies of proof-of-concept in vitro and in vivo.
The program ABX544 target the production of a polyclonal serum raised against Ebola, containing neutralizing antibodies produced from animals immunized with an antigen specific for Ebola. Unlike vaccines which do not generate an immediate protective response, ABX544 should cause an immediate effect after administration. The molecule ABX544 could as well be indicated both as a curative treatment of people infected by the virus, or as a preventive treatment non-infected (e.g. health professionals), thus constituting a first line of defense during epidemics. ABIVAX is planning to enter ABX544 in clinical phase, after having led the pre-clinical studies including assessment and evaluation of its safety.
“In the light of the recent resurgence of Ebola in Africa, it seems to us an urgent need to develop products that are effective for preventive and treatment options against this devastating disease,” said Bernard Fanget, Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs, Production and Development Processes in ABIVAX and Consultant of long standing within the WHO (World Health Organization, WHO). “The loan from Bpifrance and the region of Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean is expected to accelerate the development of candidate serum hyperimmun of ABIVAX “.
The Ebola virus disease, previously called Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and frequently fatal in the human being. The virus is transmitted to humans by wild animals (bats and monkeys) and spreads within the human population by transmission of the virus from man to man. The average rate of mortality of Ebola is about 50%, having fluctuated between 25% and 90% in past epidemics. The first cases of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease have occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the recent cases of the outbreak in West Africa have also hit major urban and rural areas. The epidemic of 2014-2015 has been particularly severe : it has infected more than 28 000 people, causing the death of more than 11 000 people (WHO, may 2017).
About ABIVAX (www.abivax.com)
ABIVAX is an innovative biotechnology that target the immune system to eliminate viral diseases. ABIVAX has three technological platforms : one platform, ” antiviral “, “immune stimulation” and ” polyclonal antibodies “. Its product is the most advanced, ABX464, is currently in Phase II clinical study to evaluate its capacity to become an element of a functional cure of HIV/AIDS. ABX464 is a new molecule that is administered orally that inhibits viral replication via a unique mode of action, and this independently of a strong anti-inflammatory effect. ABIVAX also develops a candidate immunostimulant in clinical phase as well as several candidates in preclinical targets viral (Chikungunya, Ebola, Dengue, etc). Several of these compounds are likely to enter the phase of clinical development within the next 18 months. ABIVAX is listed on compartment B of Euronext Paris (ISIN : FR0012333284 – Mnémo : ABVX). ABIVAX is eligible for the PEA-PME.
For more information about the company, visit : www.abivax.com
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