- BioNet-Asia appoints Jacques-Francois Martin to its advisory board as it moves its Recombinant Pertussis vaccine into Phase II/III.

LYON, France, Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BioNet-Asia (BioNet), a vaccine company focused on innovative vaccine discovery and supply, announced that vaccine senior executive Jacques-Francois Martin was joining its Advisory Board effective January 1st.

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"Jacques-Francois is a highly respected executive in the world of vaccine and evidence of the commercial successes he has led are too many to mention.  I am glad that BioNet will benefit from his tremendous experience and knowledge, and I am personally looking forward to working with him again," said Pham Hong Thai, BioNet-Asia CEO.

Martin has spent a lifetime in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He is the founder and CEO of Parteurop Pharma, a French consulting firm and has been board member of several life sciences companies and organizations such as the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. He was also the CEO of Pasteur Merieux Connaught (now Sanofi-Pasteur) and Biocine (now part of Novartis Vaccines) before becoming President and CEO of The Vaccine Fund, an organization working together with GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) to provide life saving vaccines to low-income countries.

"I am delighted to join BioNet's Advisory Board in such an exciting time for the company.  BioNet is uniquely positioned to develop and bring to market innovative and cost-effective vaccines to the developing world.  BioNet's recombinant acellular pertussis is one of the most promising vaccines in its class and I am really looking forward to helping to develop the partnerships required to deliver such life-saving vaccines to the neediest," said Martin.

For nearly ten years, BioNet has been working on the development of a new Recombinant Pertussis (RP) vaccine which has recently shown to be safe and immunogenic in humans. BioNet proprietary genetically-engineered non-toxic Pertussis Toxin induces a higher level of neutralizing antibody than conventional vaccines, and thus it could enhance a better protective immunity against pertussis which currently wanes rapidly with some acellular pertussis vaccines.

About BioNet-Asia

BioNet-Asia is an independent vaccine company with a focus on technological innovation and product supply. BioNet has a successful track record in product development partnership, technology transfer and global market access. In its manufacturing plant in Thailand, BioNet has a broad pipeline of vaccines in R&D and clinical stages, such as Recombinant Pertussis and combined vaccines. Bionet has transferred its Hib meningitis vaccine technology for the manufacturing of a full liquid pentavalent vaccine, and it has recently entered into a production partnership for producing a new Rabies vaccine. BioNet has also built several strategic alliances fostering vaccine self-reliance and leading to the production and supply of billions of doses of vaccines worldwide.

For further information, please contact:

BioNet-Asia Co., Ltd.
Mr. Supachai Nampornchaisakul
Tel: +66-2361-8110
E-mail:  info@bionet-asia.com
www.bionet-asia.com

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