Aterovax Signs Agreement with SPI-BIO to Distribute its sPLA2 Activity Test in Europe for Research Use
April 19 2010 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for
atherosclerosis, today announced the signing of a 3 year, exclusive
agreement with SPI-Bio, a specialist distributor of products and
services in drug development, to distribute and sell Aterovax’s
sPLA2 activity test in Europe to academic and research laboratories
for research use. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The phospholipases A2 (PLA2) superfamily of enzymes plays a key
role in the inflammatory process by generating chemical
intermediates. The activity of secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) is closely
associated with the rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque and the
subsequent risk of cardiovascular events In research, Aterovax’s
sPLA2 activity test offers considerable promises for investigating
cardiovascular and inflammation diseases, screening drug candidates
as well as elucidating their mechanism of action.
“While sPLA2 is not a new molecule, it was really interesting to
see that it became a new biomarker in the light of the validation
work performed by Aterovax. This assay not only perfectly
supplements our existing range in the field of metabolic diseases,
but also complies with our policy to market fully validated kit in
the appropriate biological samples” Said Xavier Morge SPI-Bio
Managing Director.
“We believe that SPI-Bio is the ideal partner in Europe for the
research applications of our sPLA2 activity test. Not only do they
have a strong network and customer base in laboratories conducting
inflammation research, SPI-Bio already has experience in the sPLA2
field,” noted Dr Dominique Surun, CEO of Aterovax. “This
collaboration is the first step in our global strategy of finding
the best distribution partners for our sPLA2 activity test. We
anticipate signing similar deals in other territories throughout
2010.”
About SPI-Bio
Located in Montigny le Bretonneux, SPI-Bio was founded in 1991
for the valorisation of the French Atomic Energy Commission
Department of pharmacology and immunology know-how and patents. The
company businesses are split in services, dedicated to
pharmaceutical or biotech companies, and production and marketing
of life science reagents for drug development.
Fully owned by Bertin technologies, and together with the three
other subsidiaries acting in the Bertin Pharma Branch (namely
Biotec Centre, Ellipse Pharmaceutical and IDPS), SPI-Bio assist its
customers throughout their whole project from screening of
candidate drugs to manufacturing and distribution of clinical
supplies. The services are divided into 2 areas of expertise,
(i)preclinical & clinical supplies and (ii) pharmaceutical
development & clinical supplies, focus on Pharmaceutical
development & clinical supplies, ADME & Immunogenicity,
Biotransformation, Antiviral & Immune, Pharmacology, Biosafety,
and Biomarkers.
The distribution platform acts worldwide through an extensive
distribution network covering the main Research territories.
SPI-Bio focuses on kits to measure biomarkers using a patent
technology, and biochemical reagents for analytical purpose in the
field of metabolic disease and cancer. For more information visit
www.spibio.com.
About Aterovax
Aterovax is developing innovative products for the
cardiovascular disease market based on a unique understanding of
atherosclerosis, the condition responsible for most cardiovascular
problems. Aterovax’s first product is a diagnostic blood test to
measure activity of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), a powerful
biomarker that provides physicians with clinically relevant
information about the presence of a destabilized atherosclerotic
plaque. Detecting and measuring this complex processes is critical
to monitoring the pathology of atherosclerosis. Currently,
Aterovax’s sPLA2 activity test is only available for research
applications. The company will seek regulatory approval to diagnose
coronary heart disease in asymptomatic individuals and to predict
pathological events in patients with existing cardiovascular
disease. Aterovax is currently investigating the role of additional
new biomarkers involved in atherosclerosis. In the future, the
company aims to leverage its expertise to develop additional
immunotherapeutic products that prevent atherosclerotic plaque
formation and progression, thereby covering the continuum from
cardiovascular disease diagnosis to treatment. The Company was
founded in Paris, France in 2006 with financing from the SEFTI
fund, a specialist European cardiovascular fund. For more
information visit www.aterovax.com.