Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Themis , a biopharmaceutical company with clinical development programs focused on immunomodulation therapies for infectious diseases and cancer , and ABL Europe ( ABL ), global contract development and manufacturing organization ( CDMO ), contract research institute ( CRO) and subsidiary of the French biotechnology group Institut Mérieux, announced today that ABL will produce a Themis vaccine candidate in preparation for planned clinical trials. The vaccine is developed using a measles virus-based vaccine platform, which is licensed exclusively to Themis by the world-famous Pasteur Institute in Paris .
Dr. Erich Tauber , CEO of Themis , commented: “The main reasons why we decided to work with ABL Europe are based on our previous experience with the company and its virological expertise. ABL has a significant advantage when it comes to fast production. This means that we can start our clinical trials quickly. "
Themis recently announced that it is actively working with the Pasteur Institute, the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. To date, CEPI has invested $ 4.9 million in this vaccine development. ABL was selected by Themis as the manufacturer and supplier of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate to be used for clinical trials.
“We consider it a privilege to be able to work with Themis in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this specific situation, we at ABL will use our know-how to quickly bring a promising vaccine candidate into clinical trials, "said Dr. Patrick Mahieux , Managing Director of ABL Europe.
