Collaborative Effort to Develop SARS Vaccine

A collaborative agreement with a US vaccine research center to develop a vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been announced by GenVec, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Under the agreement with the Vaccine Research Center at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (VRC, NIAID), GenVec will use proprietary adenovector technology to construct and produce an adenovirus-based SARS vaccine. The agreement is known as a CRADA (collaborative research and development agreement).

The preclinical collaboration will evaluate and develop adenoviral vectors expressing modified SARS genes. GenVec will work with the VRC to rapidly develop these preclinical candidates using its own cell line and second-generation adenovector technology. The VRC will test the vaccine candidates in preclinical models.

SARS is an emerging world health threat, with more almost 7,000 cases reported in 25 countries and the risk of death climbing to 13-43%, depending on the age of the patient. The sequence of the SARS coronavirus will be used in making the adenoviral vector vaccines. GenVec is also collaborating with the US government for the development of therapeutic vaccine candidates for HIV, malaria, and dengue fever.

"The speed at which we have been able to complete both the funded contract amendment and the Letter of Intent to establish a CRADA demonstrates the US government's and GenVec's commitment and ability to respond rapidly to a critical medical need,” said Bill Enright, associate director, corporate development, GenVec.





Related Links:
GenVec
US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases