Singapore: Australian National University (ANU) has granted an exclusive license to vaccine development company, BioDiem, for novel technology to target infectious diseases.

The first disease indication of the technology is dengue fever and it may also facilitate the design of vaccines against a number of other infectious diseases including Murray Valley encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis. Dengue fever is a disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus that affects between 50 and 100 million people a year, and according to the World Health Organization the incidence is increasing significantly. Although only a small percentage of cases are fatal, non-fatal cases can be extremely debilitating.

Dengue fever currently has no existing vaccine, and control methods include variably effective attempts to address mosquito populations. This acquisition will complement BioDiem's broad product portfolio of vaccine and antimicrobial technologies, and the Company's strategy to provide treatments for infectious diseases with attractive market potential. The agreement would provide BioDiem with an exclusive license to the technology in exchange for royalties to ANU on any sales resulting from the commercialisation of the product, or on consideration received as a result of BioDiem outlicensing the technology for specific disease targets.

"BioDiem will acquire a valuable asset which supports existing research work in the area of infectious disease vaccines and can also be licensed for other infectious diseases. Our discussions with ANU have resulted in agreement on a term sheet on a technology, which so neatly fits within the BioDiem's portfolio. ANU will also benefit from royalties from its commercial licensing. The work done to date by the ANU researchers provides a base for strong intellectual property and exciting new vaccine development opportunities for licencees" said Julie Phillips, CEO, BioDiem.