Microbix Biosystems Inc will be distributing a new Helper-Dependent Adenovirus Vector technology on behalf of Merck & Co., New Jersey.

"We are pleased that Merck has selected Microbix to make this system available to the scientific community, adding a technology to our established portfolio of adenovirus reagents and strengthening our position in a business we have been leading for several years," said William J. Gastle, President and CEO of Microbix.

Helper-Dependent (HD) Adenovirus vectors are being studied at the basic research level as potential tools for gene therapy and drug delivery. In this system, only the cis-acting elements (required for viral DNA replication and packaging) are derived from adenovirus type 5. The rest of the adenovector is composed of non-viral and non-expressing DNA sequences. Consequently, a "helper" virus is used to provide all of the trans-acting elements (except E1) required for amplification of the HD adenovector. The recombinant adenovectors produced using this system can allow for a longer duration of transgene expression compared to traditional adenovirus vectors.

Microbix specializes in developing and manufacturing cell culture-derived biologics for an emerging world market of biotherapeutic drugs and vaccines. It makes reagents for building diagnostic products and tools used in biotechnology. The Company has expertise in advanced culture, purification, process scale-up and validation technologies.