AEterna signs research deal with German univ

Nasdaq-traded shares of Canadian drugmaker AEterna Zentaris closed up 1.2% on April 21 at $5.09, as investors welcomed the news that the firm has formed a research alliance with Wurzburg, Germany-headquartered Julius-Maximilians University. The partnership will focus on the development of tumor vaccines based on attenuated bacterial carriers, and the first targets are expected to be vaccines against prostate cancer and melanoma.

This vaccine approach manipulates the ability of bacteria to elicit potent immune responses and directs this against malignancies. The vaccine's immunogenicity is further boosted by the capability of bacteria to colonize tumor tissues; this property will be used to transport substances into the tumor tissue which convert non-toxic pro-drugs into active agents. According to AEterna, a preclinical proof-of-principle study in a transgenic animal model has already demonstrated this action and is supported by several patent applications now transferred to the company.

"Using recombinant bacteria as Trojan horses against malignancies is a very attractive approach for future cancer therapy," noted Ulf Rapp, a researcher at the University, who added that "the collaboration with AEterna Zentaris will allow us to further push ahead in that promising area of research."