Valentis resumes earlier licence agreement with DSM Biologics and is granted two manufacturing patents
A new deal between Valentis and DSM Biologics reinstates a licence granted to DSM Biologics under the terms of their original agreement of September 1998, predating the pAlliance™ plasmid DNA contract manufacturing alliance set up about two years ago by Qiagen NV, DSM Biologics, Valentis Inc. and the Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines business unit of the American Home Products Corporation.
The wider pAlliance has now been dissolved, leaving Qiagen GmbH to use the pAlliance™ trademark in its business.
The agreement between Valentis, Inc. based in California and DSM Biologics for Valentis’ plasmid DNA manufacturing technology, on revised financial terms, also resolves outstanding disputes between Valentis and DSM Biologics about plasmid DNA manufacturing services previously performed by DSM Biologics for Valentis.
In addition to the profit-sharing arrangement that had been agreed in 1998, Valentis will receive a royalty. The deal eliminates about $1.1 million (€938,600) in liabilities accrued by Valentis, while DSM will pay Valentis about $600,000 (€512,000).
In separate announcements, Valentis has been granted patent rights. One, in Europe, EP 923592, is for plasmid DNA (nucleic acid) purification using a gel layer and covers ultrafiltration and diafiltration while similar patents have been issued in the USA and Australia. The other, US Patent (No 6,534,483) covers a method of formulating nucleic acids with transfection facilitating agents by in-line mixing as well as co-lyophilised complexes of nucleic acids with formulating agents such as poloxamers and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and expands Valentis' patent position relating to its co-lyophilised, poloxamer formulated Del-1 gene product, currently in Phase I trials.
Keywords : Valentis Inc. USA DSM Biologics Netherlands Manufacturing licence Plasmid DNA Patent Nucleic acid Purification Formulation
