CMC Biologics, OncoSynergy Partner To Manufacture Ebola Treatment
By Cyndi Root
CMC Biologics and OncoSynergy have partnered for the process development and manufacture of OS2966, a treatment for the Ebola virus. The companies announced the deal in a press release, stating that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted OS2966 Orphan Drug status earlier in 2014 for the treatment of glioblastoma. Gustavo Mahler, global COO at CMC Biologics, said, “In December last year, we began working with OncoSynergy for development and GMP manufacturing of OS2966 for their IND enabling studies and clinical trials in cancer. Given our strong relationship, we were able to quickly put in place an agreement that enables aggressive timelines and provides a progressive cost-structure that benefits this global health program.”
CMC Biologics and OncoSynergy Agreement
In the original agreement between CMC Biologics and OncoSynergy, begun on December 17, 2013, the two companies agreed to collaborate in order to enable early toxicology testing. Activities were to include cell-line development, analytical development, and manufacturing of non-GMP material. CMC’s site in Copenhagen is the site for those activities with OncoSynergy’s French division leading the project. The current agreement is for manufacturing of the product. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement.
OS2966
OS2966 is a monoclonal antibody developed for oncology indications. OncoSynergy and a team of international Ebola scientists found in laboratory models that OS2966 is able to block the Ebola virus from entering cells. The company is testing the agent in primate models and has proposed human clinical trials in West Africa to test safety and effectiveness. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) state that the virus has a 60 to 90 percent mortality rate in the 18,000 people infected so far.
About OncoSynergy
OncoSynergy is a start-up company in San Francisco, California. It stated that CMC Biologics understood its start-up status and acted flexibly to accommodate its unique needs. OncoSynergy focuses on orphan diseases and cancer and other diseases with high unmet needs. OS2966 is the company’s lead candidate. The company calls its drug platform “Targeted Synergy,” as a single drug shows promise in treating numerous types of cancer, including therapy-resistant and metastatic cancers or inhibiting the progression of other diseases like Ebola.