Active Biotech concludes agreement with Aventis Pasteur
8/8/2000 4:36 AM EST
Active Biotech has started collaboration with Aventis Pasteur within the
field of diarrhoea diseases.
Aventis Pasteur will assume responsibility for the marketing, sales and
distribution of Active Biotech's drinkable cholera vaccine, SBL Cholera
Vaccine for all countries worldwide outside USA and Europe. The product
has received a recommendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), as
the only vaccine on the market with a documented effect against cholera.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection with dramatic effects, occurring
primarily in Africa, Asia and South America. The disease is caused by the
Vibrio cholerae bacteria, which produces a toxin that causes severe
diarrhoea and usually vomiting. This rapidly leads to dehydration and
death if no treatment is given. Cholera is spread via contaminated water
and food. In 1999, approx. 200,000 cases of cholera were reported to the
WHO, but the real figures are thought to be considerably higher.
The product included in the agreement also covers the indication against
traveller's diarrhoea caused by the ETEC bacteria (enterotoxigenic E.
coli). The ETEC bacteria cause 30-40% of all cases of traveller's
diarrhoea.
Active Biotech is currently successfully marketing the product with this
ETEC indication under the trademark Dukoral in Sweden and Norway.
According to the agreement, Aventis Pasteur will apply for registration
also for Dukoral against traveller's diarrhoea on various international
markets.
Active Biotech will continue to sell the product for both indications in
the Nordic countries through its own sales organisation. The estimated
turnover this year in Sweden and Norway is approx. 45 Million SEK ( 5,3
Million Euros); a 100% increase compared with 1999. The total turnover,
including export, is estimated to reach 80 Million SEK (9,5 Million
Euros), for year 2000.
The agreement with Aventis Pasteur specifies that Active Biotech will
produce the SBL Cholera Vaccine and Dukoral. Production will take place at
Active Biotech's units in Stockholm and Matfors. Scaling up of the
capacity is being made during 1999-2000.
Active Biotech holds a prominent position within the area of diarrhoea
illnesses. Studies in this field began as early as in the 1970s in co-
operation with Professors Ann-Mari Svennerholm and Jan Holmgren at
Göteborg University. This research gave rise to the SBL Cholera Vaccine
against cholera and the Dukoral travel vaccine against traveller's
diarrhoea caused by ETEC infection.
A dry formulation in powder form is being developed to facilitate
transport and access to SBL Cholera Vaccine in the developing countries.
"The agreement is important for Active Biotech's vaccine activities. The
company gains access to Aventis Pasteur's extensive expertise in
international registration, development and marketing of vaccines. At the
same time, Active Biotech can fully utilise its production units," says
Sven Andréasson, President & CEO of Active Biotech.
Lund 8 August 2000
Active Biotech AB (Publ)
Sven Andréasson
President & CEO
Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines with the broadest range of
products, produces more than one billion doses of vaccines every year to
immunize 400 million people around the world. Aventis Pasteur,
headquartered in Lyon, France, is one of the pharmaceutical activities of
Aventis SA.
Aventis Pasteur operated under the Pasteur Mérieux Connaught name until
the creation of Aventis.
Aventis S.A. (NYSE: AVE) is a world leader in life sciences. Focused on
two core business areas - pharmaceuticals and agriculture - Aventis is
dedicated to improving life through the discovery and development of
innovative products in the fields of prescription drugs, vaccines,
therapeutic proteins, crop production and protection, animal health and
nutrition. With global corporate headquarters in Strasbourg, France,
Aventis employs around 95,000 people in more than 120 countries and
recorded pro forma sales in 1999 of 20.5 billion euros ($20.7 billion).
Aventis was launched in December 1999 through the merger of Hoechst AG of
Germany and Rhone-Poulenc S.A of France.
Active Biotech AB is a biotechnology company focusing on research and
development of pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Our expertise lies in the
knowledge of the human immune defence system. We have a high-quality
project portfolio and extensive financial resources. The main products are
the Dukoral travel vaccine, the SBL Cholera Vaccine, the vaccine against
traveller's diarrhoea (ETEC), medicine for multiple sclerosis (SAIK) and
cancer (TTS). Active Biotech's turnover was MSEK 267 in 1999.
Active Biotech AB
Box 724, SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden.
Tel: +46 (0)46-19 20 00
Fax: +46 (0)46-19 20 50
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