Jiangsu Recbio Technology Company Limited (02179.HK), a leading Chinese biopharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into a licensing cooperation agreement, and have commenced the technology transfer of their Recombinant 9-valent HPV (HPV9) vaccine, REC603, to Biological E. Limited (BE), a leading Indian vaccine and pharmaceutical company. Recbio will provide BE with Drug Substance (DS) and transfer technology to formulate, fill, and package vaccines. It will also include technology transfer for DS production at an appropriate time in the future.
According to the agreement, BE will receive the exclusive right to commercialize the vaccine in India and participate in UNICEF & PAHO tenders in other markets.
The HPV9 vaccine is a recombinant vaccine designed to protect against nine types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including those responsible for cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as genital warts.
HPV is a group of over 200 known viruses, some of which are classified as high-risk due to their potential to cause cancer. While most HPV infections are controlled by the body’s immune system, persistent infections with high-risk HPV types can lead to cervical cancer and other malignancies affecting the vulva, vagina, mouth, throat, penis, and anus. In 2019 alone, HPV was linked to an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 in men. Preventive vaccination, alongside HPV screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, is a key strategy in reducing the global burden of HPV-related cancers.
Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The 9-valent HPV vaccine is effective in preventing around 90 percent of cervical cancer and 90 percent of anal and genital warts. Recbio’s core product, REC603, is for people ranging from 9 to 45 years old and is currently in the crucial Phase III clinical trials in China.
Following the signing of the technology license agreement, Recbio has begun transferring the necessary technical knowledge, materials, and expertise to BE to produce the HPV9 vaccine. Recbio will continue to support BE in clinical development and regulatory approvals to ensure a seamless transition. This collaboration comes at a crucial time, as the global demand for cervical cancer prevention is at an all-time high. By leveraging BE’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, this partnership aims to increase the availability of an affordable HPV9 vaccine in India and across international markets.
