Ceva acquires license for ProBioGen viral vaccine production

//20 Mar 2012 Global veterinary and health company Ceva Santé Animale, headquartered in Libourne, France, has taken commercial license for ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR avian cell line for viral vaccine production. The technology can be used for making vaccines for all species including swine. In a preceding pilot study Ceva evaluated the technology, which allows cells to grow rapidly and in high cell densities in ProBioGen’s proprietary chemically defined medium. ProBioGen is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Development projects Master cell banking for one viral vaccine strain has been completed and further development projects are underway. Volker Sandig, chief scientific officer of ProBioGen, is convinced that, “this agreement is the result of an excellent collaboration and is based on a mutual focus on technologically optimised biopharmaceutical manufacturing. We are pleased that Ceva as an expert vaccine producer decided to work with us on our AGE1.CR cell line. We are looking very much forward to further broaden the cooperation between our scientists in accomplishing additional goals.” Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO said “This type of scientific and industrial partnership with ProBioGen is an excellent example of how we hope to develop collaboration with genuinely innovative partners in our mission to go ‘Together, beyond animal health’.” An undisclosed number of animal vaccines are to be evaluated on the AGE1.CR cell line. The commercial license includes milestone and royalty payments. Financial details were not disclosed. Immortalised cell line AGE1.CR is an immortalised cell line derived from primary cells of a Muscovy duck. The cell line was created as a platform for replacing primary chicken cells for production of vaccines and hyper-attenuated viruses in chemically defined media and suspension cultures. In addition, AGE1.CR cells are also suitable for the generation of trans-complementing helper or packaging cell lines to support efficient production of replication-restricted viral vectors. Parnell Ceva also announced to have acquired a number of Parnell products in move to further strengthen its Australian business. The products AquaFOL, Pamlin, Ketamine, Methone, KEY and Imidox fit well with the company’s current range and will be manufactured at its APVMA approved Glenorie Plant in Sydney, following regulatory approval. Related websites: • ProBioGen • Ceva Santé Animale • Parnell