PriceSensitive

Aeterna Zentaris (TSX:AEZS) announces license agreement and research contract

Health Care, Market News
TSX:AEZS
15 March 2021 10:15 (EDT)

Aeterna Zentaris’ wholly-owned subsidiary Aeterna Zentaris GmbH, has entered into an exclusive worldwide patent and license agreement for a potential COVID-19 vaccine. 

The vaccine, currently in preclinical development, was invented at the Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, one of Germany’s leading research and teaching universities.

The company has entered into a research agreement with the university to conduct supplementary research activities and preclinical development studies on the potential vaccine.

The vaccine technology developed at the University has the potential to be an orally active, live-attenuated bacterial vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to COVID-19.

“Over the last months, we learned that the original SARS-CoV-2 strain mutates rapidly, and these mutant strains continue to spread throughout the population.

It has been reported that the currently available vaccines for COVID-19 are still effective against the known mutant strains.

However, we believe there is the potential to develop an improved vaccine that relies on several SARS-CoV-2 antigens in parallel with the goal of improving the immune response against mutated viruses. Additionally, our vaccine has the potential to become a cost-effective oral alternative with less demanding storage and logistics requirements”, commented Dr. Klaus Paulini, Chief Executive Officer of Aeterna Zentaris.

“We look forward to advancing our scientific collaboration with Prof. Rudel and his group at the University. 

Prof. Thomas Rudel of the University added, “We are looking forward to our collaboration with Aeterna and a new phase of accelerated preclinical and potential clinical development.

The approved Salmonella Typhi Ty21a bacterial strain is the basis of the new vaccine approach against coronavirus infections. The typhoid fever vaccine Ty21a is effective, safe, easy to handle, and the capsule formulation can be stored at temperatures of 2°C to 8°C.

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical company commercializing and developing therapeutics and diagnostic tests.

Aeterna Zentaris Inc.(AEZS) is up 25.85 per cent, trading at C$1.85 per share at 10:25 am ET.

Related News