News
Press Release: Vaccine against Chikungunya virus
Top Institute Pharma (TI Pharma) has formed a consortium with Wageningen University, Erasmus University Medical Centre and Nobilon, a subsidiary of Schering-Plough, to develop a ‘proof of concept’ vaccine against the Chikungunya virus. This vaccine aims to reduce the rate of Chikungunya infections.
Viral disease epidemics have increased in incidence around the world in recent decades. One of these diseases is caused by the Chikungunya virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Originally, the disease was confined to Africa, but later spread to countries in Asia. Several cases of this disease have now been confirmed in various European countries. It appears to be spread by travelers returning from affected countries. In France, there have been more than one hundred cases and in Italy a few hundred. It seems evident that the mosquitoes able of transmitting this disease are also present in Europe. Whether or not the virus will spread further throughout Europe remains to be seen.
Virologist Ab Osterhaus, one of the research supervisors, says: “Considering the increasing spread of the Chikungunya virus in Asia, and probably also in Europe in the future, it is important to develop a vaccine against this virus that can be used not only to protect people living in the endemic area, but also travelers traveling to those areas.
The groups that are going to work together in this project have extensive expertise in the field of exotic viral infectious diseases as well as significant experience with the newest technologies in the field of vaccine development.”
This TI Pharma project has a budget of EUR 2.3 million and aims to achieve a ‘proof of concept’ vaccine by the year 2012.
Chikungunya is a serious viral illness, which is transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito. The disease causes a sudden high fever, a rash and intense joint pain, which can result in disability, which can last several months. There is currently no vaccine or treatment available to combat this disease.
Within TI Pharma, consortia of industrial and academic research teams conduct groundbreaking, cross-disciplinary research projects that fit into the Priority Medicines program of the WHO. Each year, the Dutch government funds the top institute to a tune of 30 million Euros. The pharmaceutical industry and academia each contribute an additional 15 million Euros per year. TI Pharma is becoming an international leader in (bio)pharmaceutical research, training and education. TI Pharma’s fellows are trained in understanding the intricacies of the entire drug R&D process. See www.tipharma.com.
Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) is an international leader in life sciences and sustainability. Wageningen UR performs translational research and offers innovative education, in areas such as healthy food, durable agrosystems and a livable environment. www.wur.nl
Erasmus MC (University Medical Center Rotterdam) is among the top research institutes in the Netherlands. Research activities range from fundamental biomedical research, patient-related research and epidemiology to public health, healthcare policy and management. As the largest university medical center in the Netherlands, with 1,800 students of medicine, 1,500 staff members and more than 10,000 employees, Erasmus MC provides advanced medical care to 3 million people living in the south-western part of the Netherlands. For further information, visit: www.erasmusmc.nl.
Nobilon International BV, part of Schering Plough, was founded in 2003. It has production and R&D facilities in Boxmeer and Oss, the Netherlands. The biotechnology company is dedicated to the development, production and marketing of human vaccines against infectious diseases, building on existing expertise within sister companies. Nobilon focuses on respiratory and traveller's diseases. One of its core expertises is large-scale cell culture production of viruses, including influenza. Nobilon currently employs approximately 75 staff in production and R&D. www.nobilon.com
For information, please contact Ingeborg van der Heijden, 00 31 71 3322036.