Bristol spin-out Apitope gets US charity’s backing for MS vaccine trial

Partnership agreement

Apitope International NV sealed a partnership with Fast Forward LLC, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s technology transfer arm, to support Apitope’s proof of principle clinical trial of ATX-MS-1467, a vaccine designed prevent the abnormal immune response that causes multiple sclerosis.

Fast Forward said the agreement with Apitope is the first in a series of partnerships it will be striking with early stage biotechnology companies. “We are pleased to partner with Apitope to accelerate the development of innovative therapies for multiple sclerosis,” said Timothy Coetzee, Fast Forward’s Executive Director. “ATX-MS-1467 has the potential to redirect the immune system in multiple sclerosis, which is essential to minimizing the damage to the nervous system in this highly debilitating disease.”

Coetzee added, “We are concerned about the small number of therapies in development for multiple sclerosis relative to other diseases, and the impact that the current economic climate will have on development of new treatments.”

David Wraith, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Apitope, said, “Ironically, it was a fellowship from the US National Multiple Sclerosis Society that was the catalyst to devoting my life to multiple sclerosis research. It is with great pride that I, together with Apitope, come back to a partnership with the Society for a potentially life altering therapy in people with multiple sclerosis.”

The US National Multiple Sclerosis Society funds research in a range of scientific areas including immune mechanisms, genetics, nerve regeneration, and symptom managements. Under terms of the agreement, Fast Forward will provide Apitope with up to $1 million toward the proof of principle clinical trial of ATX-MS-1467 in return for warrants for purchase of shares in the company.

“The National MS Society’s support provides a strong independent validation of our approach to the treatment of multiple sclerosis,” said Keith Martin, CEO of Apitope.

Following more than 15 years of research by Wraith, ATX-MS-1467, which consists of four short peptides derived from myelin basic protein, began clinical trials in 2006. The company recently announced results from the initial clinical trial, which indicated that the drug was safe and well-tolerated with promising early evidence of efficacy.

Apitope is a Bristol University spin-out, but in 2008 moved its headquarters to Hasselt, Belgium after raising funding from Belgium venture capitalists and sealing a deal with Hasselt University to cooperate in the development of a multiple sclerosis diagnostic.