BioReliance to make bulk adenovirus for Duramed
Duramed’s vaccines, which are designed to protect against infection by adenovirus types 4 and 7, are being developed for military personel under a US Department of Defense procurement contract.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adenoviruses most commonly cause respiratory illness; however, depending on the infecting serotype, they may also cause various other illnesses, such as gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, cystitis and rash illness.
Patients with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to severe complications of adenovirus infection. Acute respiratory disease (ARD), first recognized among military recruits during World War II, can be caused by adenovirus infections during conditions of crowding and stress.
Currently Duramed’s unique live oral vaccine agents are being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a biologics license application (BLA) that the firm filed early last year.
BioReliance will manufacture bulk stocks of adenovirus at its facility in Rockville, at its base in Maryland as well as at its plants in Glasgow and Stirling in Scotland.
"We are pleased to partner with Barr in meeting this significant unmet medical need," said BioReliance CEO David Dodd. He added that the partnership could prove to be very beneficial for both parties.
BioReliance has a significant track record in working with adenovirus. In November last year it completed delivery of investigational quantities of Provecs Medical’s agent Immunalon, an adenovirus based therapeutic being developed for oncology applications.
