Pipeline
Therapeutic focus
Influenza
Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that is caused by influenza viruses. It is estimated that every year millions of people are infected with influenza, of which a significant number of cases result in death. Influenza is a quickly evolving virus and the human antibody response is effective against few strains belonging to two (H1 and H3) of the 16 subtypes. New vaccines are developed each year to match these strains.
Human Cytomegalovirus
Human Cytomegalovirus (hCMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus that infects most people at some point in life. hCMV is generally dormant and asymptomatic. Clinically significant hCMV disease frequently develops in patients immuno-compromised by HIV infection, solid organ transplantation, or bone marrow transplantation. Additionally, congenital transmission from mother to infant during pregnancy is a significant cause of neurological deficits and deafness in neonates. In both solid organ and marrow transplant patients, hCMV causes significant morbidity and mortality, affecting almost any organ in the body. hCMV has recently been implicated in a number of population-wide chronic conditions including atherosclerosis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and other diseases. The role of hCMV in these diseases remains to be fully substantiated but if a causative role for hCMV is, then the market for hCMV therapies could be extremely large.
RSV+MPV
RSV and MPV are a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV and MPV account for approximately 90% of cases of bronchiolitis, the most severe lower-respiratory-tract infection during early childhood (Semple JID 2005). RSV and MPV coinfection have been described and associated to an increased risk to the intensive care unit and more severe disease. In addition, immunocompromised patients, patients with underlying lung and heart diseases and the elderly are at high risk of RSV and MPV infections where progression to the lower respiratory tract may prove fatal. There is a high medical need for therapeutic intervention in RSV- and MPV-caused respiratory tract infections, MPE8 being the only drug in development that could address both viral infections at a time, with multiple antiviral modes of action, long-lasting activity and an exceptional safety profile.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. It can cause chronic liver disease and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. According to the World Health Organisation approximately two billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infection, resulting in 600,000 deaths every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B. Although a recombinant vaccine against HBV is available, the number of chronically infected patients is expected to increase in the next 15-20 years. Passive vaccination using human monoclonal antibodies represents a possible new therapy in acute infections, such as re-infection after transplantation, and chronic infections in association with antiviral drugs.
Dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever. The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades and has become a major international public health concern. Two fifths of the world’s population is at risk of the disease and WHO estimates there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. There is no vaccine to protect against dengue.
Rabies
Rabies virus has the highest human case fatality rate of any viral disease, nearly 100% in individuals who do not receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Rabies is widespread across the globe and approximately 10 million people a year are treated after exposure to rabies, usually following a bite from infected animals. Some 40,000 to 70,000 people are estimated to die of the disease each year, mainly in Africa, China and India. These data highlights the significant unmet medical need for a safe, effective and affordable rabies treatment.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading bacterial gram positive pathogen, causing a significant number of infections and deaths every year. New strain being substantially more resistant to antibiotic therapies has been emerging during several decades. The more resistant strains are mainly found in hospitals, but are becoming increasingly prevalent in community-acquired infections and thus, spreading in the population.
Oncology
Cancer is one of the major causes of diseases and death worldwide. A significant effort is ongoing related to the search for new treatments, especially in the field of biologics including antibodies. Despite the immense competition we believe that our approach will generate very valuable leads. We are utilizing our technologies and know how to find unique human monoclonal antibodies for some specific tumor types.
Pipeline
Therapeutic focus
Influenza
Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that is caused by influenza viruses. It is estimated that every year millions of people are infected with influenza, of which a significant number of cases result in death. Influenza is a quickly evolving virus and the human antibody response is effective against few strains belonging to two (H1 and H3) of the 16 subtypes. New vaccines are developed each year to match these strains.
Human Cytomegalovirus
Human Cytomegalovirus (hCMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus that infects most people at some point in life. hCMV is generally dormant and asymptomatic. Clinically significant hCMV disease frequently develops in patients immuno-compromised by HIV infection, solid organ transplantation, or bone marrow transplantation. Additionally, congenital transmission from mother to infant during pregnancy is a significant cause of neurological deficits and deafness in neonates. In both solid organ and marrow transplant patients, hCMV causes significant morbidity and mortality, affecting almost any organ in the body. hCMV has recently been implicated in a number of population-wide chronic conditions including atherosclerosis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and other diseases. The role of hCMV in these diseases remains to be fully substantiated but if a causative role for hCMV is, then the market for hCMV therapies could be extremely large.
RSV+MPV
RSV and MPV are a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV and MPV account for approximately 90% of cases of bronchiolitis, the most severe lower-respiratory-tract infection during early childhood (Semple JID 2005). RSV and MPV coinfection have been described and associated to an increased risk to the intensive care unit and more severe disease. In addition, immunocompromised patients, patients with underlying lung and heart diseases and the elderly are at high risk of RSV and MPV infections where progression to the lower respiratory tract may prove fatal. There is a high medical need for therapeutic intervention in RSV- and MPV-caused respiratory tract infections, MPE8 being the only drug in development that could address both viral infections at a time, with multiple antiviral modes of action, long-lasting activity and an exceptional safety profile.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. It can cause chronic liver disease and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. According to the World Health Organisation approximately two billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infection, resulting in 600,000 deaths every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B. Although a recombinant vaccine against HBV is available, the number of chronically infected patients is expected to increase in the next 15-20 years. Passive vaccination using human monoclonal antibodies represents a possible new therapy in acute infections, such as re-infection after transplantation, and chronic infections in association with antiviral drugs.
Dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever. The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades and has become a major international public health concern. Two fifths of the world’s population is at risk of the disease and WHO estimates there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. There is no vaccine to protect against dengue.
Rabies
Rabies virus has the highest human case fatality rate of any viral disease, nearly 100% in individuals who do not receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Rabies is widespread across the globe and approximately 10 million people a year are treated after exposure to rabies, usually following a bite from infected animals. Some 40,000 to 70,000 people are estimated to die of the disease each year, mainly in Africa, China and India. These data highlights the significant unmet medical need for a safe, effective and affordable rabies treatment.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading bacterial gram positive pathogen, causing a significant number of infections and deaths every year. New strain being substantially more resistant to antibiotic therapies has been emerging during several decades. The more resistant strains are mainly found in hospitals, but are becoming increasingly prevalent in community-acquired infections and thus, spreading in the population.
Oncology
Cancer is one of the major causes of diseases and death worldwide. A significant effort is ongoing related to the search for new treatments, especially in the field of biologics including antibodies. Despite the immense competition we believe that our approach will generate very valuable leads. We are utilizing our technologies and know how to find unique human monoclonal antibodies for some specific tumor types.
