Innogenetics views options post E1 vacc

Following its decision to discontinue further investment in its hepatitis C therapeutic E1 vaccine candidate due to unimpressive clinical trial results, Ghent, Belgium-based biopharmaceutical firm Innogenetics NV is now reviewing its options for the therapeutic division.

The company says that it will instead focus on its existing promising pipeline of next-generation immune therapeutics, including its hepatitis C virus polypeptide and human monoclonal antibodies, which are based on the most up-to-date rational immune design approaches.

In a subsequent conference call reported by Thomson Financial, among others, Innogenetics' chief executive, Frank Morich, reiterated the firm's intention to spin-out its therapeutic division, and said he was "optimistic" that a deal could be reached before the end of the year. He said that discussions were ongoing with potential partners, although not naming names, adding that he did not exclude the possibility of an initial public offering or any kind of partnering structure.