iBio receives U.S. patent for fusion-protein vaccine technology

iBio, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: IBIO) today announced issuance of a US patent covering the use of iBio's proprietary fusion-protein technology in combination with influenza virus antigens for vaccine product applications. The invention comprises the use of lichenase in an adjuvant-like role to improve the performance of vaccines. This approach was developed by the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (FhCMB), iBio's research collaborator. The new patent is US Patent 8,124,103, entitled "Influenza Antigen, Vaccine Compositions, and Related Methods".

The vaccine industry is increasingly focused on the development of subunit vaccines. These subunit vaccines require use of components called adjuvants for improving their efficacy. Lichenase, when fused to antigens acts as an adjuvant and can improve the efficacy of vaccines.  Fusion of lichenase to vaccine antigens can enhance duration of immune response, improve production economies and increase product stability.  This approach could provide significant advantages over more conventional methodologies used to improve vaccine efficacy.

"We consider the issuance of this patent to be an important step in the expansion of opportunities in subunit vaccine development," said Vidadi Yusibov, Ph.D., one of the patent's inventors and Executive Director of FhCMB. "We previously published data demonstrating significant improvement in candidate vaccine performance in animal models when lichenase technology is employed with a range of target antigens, including antigens from plague, malaria, and human papilloma virus."

"While iBio's principal focus has been to optimize and commercialize our proprietary platform technology for broad commercial applications across the biologics field, we also have been bringing forward lichenase as a separate proprietary product platform to be licensed to enhance vaccine performance," said Robert B. Kay, Executive Chairman and CEO of iBio.  "Based upon the results obtained in multiple animal studies and the formulation advantages of using a fusion protein, we believe there will be substantial commercial interest in lichenase as a proprietary approach for potent subunit vaccines."

This patent is an important addition to iBio's broader intellectual property portfolio that includes the clinical-stage iBioLaunch™ platform for vaccines and therapeutic products.