Singapore: Novozymes Biopharma and vaccine firm, EpiVax, have entered into two years' areement for the development of novel treatments for autoimmune diseases.

The agreement allows EpiVax to use Novozymes' albumin technologies to develop cutting edge immunotherapies.

The Novozymes technology to be applied to EpiVax's Tregitope technology is known as VELTIS and based on albumin, a naturally occurring protein that can be found in human blood. Albumin works as a vehicle that transports the active drug ingredients throughout the body and increases the lifespan of the drug in the body to achieve improved patient compliance. As a result, it is possible to modulate half-life of a therapy to offer improved control, enhancing the overall efficacy of treatments.

As a result, it is possible to modulate half-life of a therapy to offer improved control, enhancing the overall efficacy of treatments.

"We are delighted to move into a license agreement with EpiVax in this key area of autoimmune diseases treatment", said Mr Peter Rosholm, vice president of Novozymes Biopharma. "In combination with the technologies and know-how EpiVax holds, Novozymes' VELTIS makes it possible to develop a potential 'paradigm-shifting' treatment for autoimmune diseases.