Defyrus buys UK gov't biowarfare patents

Canada's Defyrus has acquired a vaccine portfolio created by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and plans to initiate  preclinical studies in 2009.

The licensed technology of 27 issued and pending international  patents, describes the production of multi-valent vaccines for the  treatment of alpha-viral infections resulting from bioterrorism or  endemic disease. These highly infectious, mosquito-borne encephalitis  viruses pose a serious risk to people and livestock, for which no  vaccine or therapy exists.

Defyrus chief executive Jeffrey Turner said: "DSTL has pioneered the  investigation of effective medical countermeasures for the treatment of  a number of important  biological diseases that are potential  biological warfare threats. Their unique approach to vaccine  development and compelling animal efficacy data for viral encephalitis  made this license attractive. We see tremendous synergy in levering  investor capital with successful government R&D programs," he  added.