Opsona to collaborate with CSL on OpsoVac

Opsona Therapeutics, an Irish biotechnology company focused on novel therapeutic and preventative approaches to autoimmune and inflammatory  diseases, has entered into a vaccine adjuvant research collaboration  with Australia's CSL.

Under the terms of the agreement, Opsona will receive undisclosed  upfront payments in return for the use of its OpsoVac technology. The  agent, licensed from Trinity College, Dublin, inhibits T-regulatory  cells to enhance anti-tumor immunity, according to the firms.

The "inhibition of T-regulatory cells is a promising approach to  enhancing the effectiveness of both cancer immunotherapeutics and  vaccines against chronic infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and  influenza," added Andrew Cuthbertson, chief scientific officer of  CSL.