Immunovaccine Inc has signed an agreement with Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, to in-license EMD 640744, an investigational therapeutic survivin-based cancer vaccine designed to target multiple solid tumours and haematological malignancies.

Immunovaccine will build on the current on-going phase-1 study for EMD 640744 by formulating the survivin-based vaccine in its DepoVax delivery system. It is envisioned that after some preclinical work, the EMD 640744-DepoVax combination vaccine will proceed quickly into phases-1 and 2 of clinical development.

The license agreement grants Immunovaccine exclusive worldwide rights, under issued patents and patent applications, to develop and commercialize the survivin-based vaccine for multiple cancer indications. Under the terms, Immunovaccine will pay Merck KGaA success-based milestones and royalties as a percentage of product sales. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

"Merck KGaA is a global leader with a track record of successfully developing therapies for cancer and we are excited to be working with them on such a vaccine candidate. We look forward to expediting the clinical development of this EMD 640744-DepoVax combination, and expanding Immunovaccine's vaccine pipeline," said Dr Randal Chase, president and CEO of Immunovaccine Inc.

Merck KGaA has designed the EMD 640744 antigen vaccine composition to target survivin-expressing solid tumours, bringing it to phase-I of clinical development.

Immunovaccine's DepoVax platform is a lipid depot-based vaccine delivery and enhancement technology whereby the antigens and adjuvants (immune enhancers) are formulated in liposomes and then in oil.

Immunovaccine is a clinical stage vaccine development company focused on the commercialization of its patented DepoVax vaccine delivery technology.