BioDiem hopes to take this technology to the stage where it will aid the engineering of future vaccines for cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and infectious diseases such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). NPC is highly prevalent in Asia and certain regions of East Asia and Africa. RSV is a source of severe respiratory illness in infants and children worldwide, which is estimated to cause 160,000 deaths annually.

Biodiem has begun research collaboration with France-based VIVALIS, a biopharmaceutical company with expertise in vaccine production technologies. The collaboration involves investigation into whether VIVALIS' technology would support the development of the vector program. BioDiem expects to announce the outcome of the first stage of this project before September 2012.

As well as building our in-house portfolio, BioDiem is leveraging its networks to add value to in-licensed technologies including a new vaccine technology platform from the Australian National University targeting dengue fever and another platform from the University of Canberra targeting hepatitis.

Dengue fever is a neglected disease affecting 50-to-100million people a year with rising incidence while hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Both dengue and hepatitis can be debilitating diseases and need more effective treatments.

BioDiem's in-licensed platforms may also be used to facilitate the design of vaccines against a number of other infectious diseases. Complementary to BioDiem's portfolio, these technologies supplement BioDiem's focus on vaccines and therapies for infectious diseases, and are to be developed with an eye to outlicensing to the right partner.

Making the most of adaptability and networks in developing markets
BioDiem seeks to provide its investors with a differentiated offering by spreading its development risk and increasing prospects for success through developing infectious diverse portfolio targeting infectious diseases and related cancers. We have clearly identified our role as a vaccine player within a globe-spanning network, with assets that offer real potential for addressing major ‘neglected' diseases as well as first world disease targets.

In an emerging ecosystem of funds, healthcare bodies, regulatory systems, and biotechs in the developing world, making the most of your defining assets and relationships is a key to business growth, and ultimately, delivering health solutions to patient populations that have struggled for generations without the medicines they need.