As part of its ongoing commitment to provide advanced therapies for haemophilia, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, announced the signing of a research collaboration with MediVas, LLC, a San Diego, California, biomaterials company specializing in improved delivery of biologics. This collaboration was initiated to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialise novel biopharmaceuticals that extend the duration of action of recombinant factor treatments for haemophilia.

MediVas will employ a unique polymer-based drug delivery system to develop advanced delivery methods for recombinant haemophilia products and improve patient convenience through the creation of a longer half-life for these proteins.

"Our new research collaboration is in keeping with Wyeth's strong presence in biopharmaceuticals and the history of innovation in haemophilia research. The novel approach of polymer-based delivery systems could offer promise for other therapeutic applications," says Cavan Redmond, Executive Vice President and General Manager, BioPharma Business Unit at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Under the terms of the agreement with Wyeth, MediVas will receive milestone payments associated with development, regulatory filings and approvals and royalty payments based on net sales of products. Wyeth will research, develop, manufacture and market any products derived from the agreement.

"We are hopeful that by combining recombinant haemophilia products with our best-in-class polymer delivery system, we can offer an alternative to the intravenous administration of these proteins. We also believe this agreement will be part of a far-reaching relationship between the two companies in many therapeutic areas," says Kenneth W. Carpenter, president and CEO of MediVas.

Haemophilia is a rare, inherited blood clotting disorder, which affects approximately 130,000 worldwide. People with haemophilia are deficient in one of the key proteins - either Factor VIII (haemophilia A) or Factor IX (haemophilia B) - that are vital in the clotting cascade to prevent bleeding. Both forms of haemophilia are characterized by spontaneous haemorrhages or prolonged bleeding, typically into joints and soft tissue. Patients with haemophilia A or haemophilia B are dependent on protein replacement therapy with Factor VIII or Factor IX, respectively, for life.