Neovacs, a leader in active immunotherapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, announced an agreement with the Argentinean company Amega Biotech to acquire its Interferon Alpha (IFNa) manufacturing license. IFNa is a key component of Neovacs’ lead therapeutic candidate, IFNa Kinoid, which is composed of inactivated IFNa coupled with a carrier protein, keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

Miguel Sieler, CEO of Neovacs, commented: "With this agreement, the company has reinforced its ability to maintain control of its technology, quality control, manufacturing and costs, which is key to our overall growth strategy as we continue advancing the clinical development of our lead candidate IFNa Kinoid. With greater control over our Kinoid technology, we can drive optimization of manufacturing costs and more effectively support the potential commercialization of IFNa Kinoid for the treatment of lupus, a complex autoimmune disease where medical needs are urgent and unmet today.”

Amega Biotech is a leading global producer of IFNa protein and a long term supplier of Neovacs, particularly for its on-going Phase IIb study of IFNa Kinoid in Lupus. Their product is recognized by the international biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry for the quality of its technological manufacturing, which also meets all relevant international standards for GMP (Good manufacturing Practice).

Neovacs targets pathologies associated with an overproduction of endogenous cytokines. This technology is based on active immunotherapy to generate an immune response through the administration of an immunogenic complex involving the target cytokine to a carrier protein. The intramuscular injection of this Kinoid induces an immune response and stimulates the production of polyclonal antibodies against the target cytokines. It is thus possible to block cytokine overproduction and its pharmacological effects. Several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (Type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, etc.) are characterized by a disorder of cytokines that are found produced in excess (ex: IFNa). This overproduction will promote inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system.

Neovacs a leading biotechnology company focused on an active immunotherapy technology platform (Kinoids) with applications in autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases.