GlobeImmune and Mycologics today that they have signed a non-exclusive research license and option agreement under which Mycologics will pursue select antifungal products under the GlobeImmune Tarmogen Technology.

The license agreement enables MycoLogics to enter into proof of concept pre-clinical testing of human and animal candidate vaccines targeting the fungal diseases aspergillosis, coccidioidmycosis, cryptococcosis and the disease leishmaniasis. Both fungal and parasite research and development projects are fully supported by NIH SBIR and STTR awards.

Tarmogens are whole, heat-killed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetically modified to express one or more protein antigens that stimulate the immune system against diseased cells. Tarmogens are avidly taken up by the cells that activate the immune system called antigen-presenting cells, to stimulate a T cell response against the desired targets. GlobeImmune's patented Tarmogen platform has a number of advantages over current approaches including that Tarmogens generate potent T cell immune responses, are not neutralized by the immune system, can be rapidly engineered and are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, a company release says.

"Tarmogens represent a potent new technology with broad potential," Dr. Claude P. Selitrennikoff, president and CEO of MycoLogics said adding, "this agreement allows us to go forward with the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for treatment of a number of fungal and parasitic diseases."

MycoLogics, Inc., is an innovative biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel antifungal drugs and therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against human fungal and parasitic pathogens.

GlobeImmune, Inc., is an emerging biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development and manufacturing of potent, targeted molecular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.