annual report 2008 - Pevion Biotech AG

annual report 2008 

Pevion Biotech Ltd. 

Worblentalstrasse 32 

CH-3063 Ittigen/ Bern 

Switzerland 

Phone +41 31 550 44 44 

Fax +41 31 550 44 45 

info@pevion.com 

www.pevion.com

2008 ANNUAL REPORT 2 

C O N T E N T S 

LETTER FROM THE CEO .................................................................................... 3 

HIGHLIGHTS 2008 ............................................................................................... 4 

COMPANY PROFILE ........................................................................................... 5 

MANAGEMENT................................................................................................... 5 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ..................................................................................... 6 

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD ......................................................................... 7 

VIROSOME-BASED TECHNOLOGY .................................................................. 8 

LEAD PROJECTS 2008 ........................................................................................ 9 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY .............................................................................. 13 

Pevion_Biotech_annual_report_2008_final.docx


L E T T E R F R O M T H E C E O 

D E A R S H A R E H O L D E R , 

Pevion_Biotech_annual_report_2008_final.docx 

2008 A N N U A L R E P O R T 

I am delighted to present our 2008 annual report. 2008 was a milestone year 

in the history of Pevion Biotech. In July the company moved into its new 

premises in Ittigen near Bern/Switzerland. The new premises have a total of 

1600 m 2 , including 800 m 2 of laboratory space equipped with state-of-the-art 

laboratories. The new laboratories have been designed to meet Pevion 

Biotech's requirements. They provide a basis on which the company can 

develop its products at highest standards also in the future. Pevion Biotech 

now has enough laboratory and office space to allow the company to grow 

and hire employees required for the later stage development of the 

products. The smooth relocation was only possible because of the 

tremendous motivation and enthusiasm of all Pevion employees and 

specifically the ones who managed the whole reconstruction of the new 

premises. The professionalism of this relocation is also observable by the fact 

that the whole team was completely operational within one week after 

moving to the new premises. To a considerable extent, the relocation of the 

company has also been supported by the Bern Economic Development 

Agency. I am convinced that the relocation represents a cornerstone for 

Pevion Biotech to continue its sustained growth. 

As an effect of the relocation, the company had to renew its license for 

manufacturing of investigational medicinal products. The Swiss Agency for 

Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) inspected the company in early October 

2008. The company passed the inspection without any major issues and even 

received an extended license which additionally includes the market release 

of the investigational medicinal products. 

Regarding Pevion Biotech's vaccine candidates, in 2008 the company 

finalized the acquisition and licensing of its most advanced product, the 

vaccine against malaria infections. Pevion Biotech has already earned 

substantial milestone payments based on this license. This puts Pevion 

Biotech in a very good financial position and offers a promising outlook for 

2009. 

Pevion Biotech has now grown to 22 employees, whereas 17 of them work in 

R&D. In 2009, the company will further extend its expertise, especially in the 

area of clinical development and regulatory affairs. This will allow us a 

thorough development of the vaccine candidates until clinical Phase II. 

I want to thank our employees for their dedication and hard work, and I am 

convinced that with the support of this enthusiastic and experienced team, 

Pevion Biotech will advance its vaccine candidates to the point where they 

can be partnered. 

I am looking forward to all new challenges, to increasing the value of the 

company significantly and to promoting the promising virosome technology. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Thomas Stauffer 

CEO Pevion Biotech AG


H I G H L I G H T S 2 0 0 8 

Pevion Biotech moved to Ittigen 



In July 2008 Pevion Biotech moved to new premises in Ittigen/Bern which 

were rebuilt for Pevion Biotech's purposes. Pevion Biotech was fully 

operational after one week. 

Mymetics Corporation Acquires Preventive Malaria Vaccine from 

Pevion Biotech AG (Switzerland) 

Mymetics Corporation, a vaccine development company, made the 

acquisition of a preventive malaria vaccine from Pevion Biotech. The Pevion 

Biotech vaccine has successfully completed human clinical trial phases I and 

IIa in Switzerland and in the UK. 

Successful Swissmedic Inspection 

The Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic, conducted its third 

regulatory inspection at Pevion Biotech. The company passed it successfully 

and was awarded an extension of the manufacturing license for 

investigational medicinal products. The Certificate of GMP Compliance 

states that the required level for good practices in the manufacture of 

pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients according to 

valid Swiss regulations has been met. These regulations are in accordance 

with the requirements for good practices in the manufacture and quality 

control of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention/Co-operation Scheme 

(PIC/S) and the directives of the European Commission. 

Breast Cancer Clinical Phase I – Interim results 

The Phase I study was started in November 2006 to give information about 

the safety and immunogenicity of the virosome-based breast cancer vaccine 

candidate. Preliminary data from the first group of patients receiving the low 

dose of the vaccine show that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated. 

Furthermore, from the immunological data gained it can be concluded that 

the formulation is immunogenic and has led to a seroconversion in eight out 

of nine patients. 

Pevion Biotech Signs Cooperation Agreement with ISS 

Pevion licensed an antigen (SAP2) for its vaccine against candidiasis from the 

Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). The vaccine candidate is being developed 

to treat and prevent Candida infections and even chronic vulvovaginitis.


C O M P A N Y P R O F I L E 



Pevion Biotech is a privately owned vaccine developing company focusing 

on the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines to prevent mucosal 

infections and cancer. The company has a risk-balanced portfolio targeting 

diseases with high medical need. For its vaccine development, the company 

uses its proprietary virosome technology which is already validated by two 

registered and marketed vaccines. The combination of this virosome 

technology with novel innovative antigens substantially reduces the known 

risk in biotechnological development. 

Pevion has brought forth a well-focused product pipeline filled with vaccine 

candidates that have the potential to go far beyond current achievements in 

vaccinology. Not only do they efficiently meet so far unmet major medical 

needs, Pevion Biotech's products also address one issue that has become 

the bottleneck of modern vaccine development: safety. 

Pevion Biotech's target indications include breast cancer, candidiasis, RSV, 

influenza and malaria. Pevion Biotech has an extensive patent portfolio 

covering license rights as well as patents and patent applications filed 

directly by the company. The company's intellectual property rights cover 

various aspects and applications of the technology. The company also owns 

various registered trademarks. 

Pevion Biotech's product pipeline as of December 31, 2008 

M A N A G E M E N T 

Peter Klein, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 

Peter Klein was head of regulatory affairs at Berna Biotech prior to joining 

Pevion Biotech. His previous professional activities include 8 years of 

experience as head of the registration department at the Swiss Drug 

Regulatory Authority SWISSMEDIC, 10 years in private consulting to the 

pharmaceutical industry (Europe, USA and Japan) and 4 years of 

employment in medium-sized pharmaceutical companies in clinical 

development and registration of pharmaceutical products. Peter Klein 

studied biology at the University of Basel, Switzerland.


Dr. Thomas Stauffer, Chief Operating Officer (COO) 

Thomas Stauffer joined Pevion Biotech in 2002. Prior to his position at Pevion 

Biotech, he served as an IP consultant for small and midsize biotechnology 

companies and built and managed a department for IP services at the Swiss 

Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. Prior to that, Thomas Stauffer 

worked for 3 years at Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC). Thomas 

Stauffer received his degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 

in Zurich, Switzerland. 

Dr. Rinaldo Zurbriggen, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) 

Rinaldo Zurbriggen is co-founder of Pevion Biotech. Prior to joining Pevion 

Biotech, Rinaldo Zurbriggen was head of the virus research department at 

Berna Biotech, where he was responsible for the development of virosomebased 

vaccines from 1996 on. During this period his department enabled 

Berna Biotech to register the first virosome-based vaccine (Epaxal) in Europe. 

Rinaldo Zurbriggen is a leading expert for virosomes and has published more 

than 30 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals in this field. Rinaldo 

Zurbriggen earned his degree at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. 

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S 

Peter Grogg, PhD, Chairman of the Board, President, Bachem Holding 

AG 

Peter Grogg founded Bachem in 1971 and is chairman of the Board of 

Directors of the Bachem Group. He holds main seats on other boards, e.g. 

Dottikon ES Holding AG, and is management board member of the Swiss 

Association for the Chemical Industry and of the Basel Chamber of 

Commerce. He was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy 

honoris causa by the University of Basel, Switzerland. 

Kuno Sommer, PhD, Vice-Chair of the Board, CEO RCC 

Kuno Sommer studied business administration at the University of Basel. 

Before 1990 he held various positions with Roche AG Vitamin Marketing. 

From 1990 to 1994 he was head of the North American branch of the Roche 

Animal Feed and Health Division; from 1995 he was manager of global 

marketing for the Vitamin and Speciality Chemicals Division in Basel, CEO of 

Givaudan-Roure in Geneva and member of the Executive Committee of 

Roche AG in 1998/99. 

Klaus Breiner, PhD, Member of the Board, BB Biotech Ventures II 

Dr. Klaus Breiner is a venture capital investor with BB Biotech Ventures at 

Bellevue Group. The Bellevue Group is one of the largest financial investors 

in the health care segment. Dr. Breiner has invested in numerous emerging 

biotech and pharma companies in the U.S. and Europe. His current and past 

board assignments include Agendia BV, Alpex Pharma SA, Cadence 

Pharmaceuticals Inc., Glycart Biotechnology AG, and Orthocon Inc. Dr. 

Breiner holds a PhD in molecular biology and has spent most of his research 

career in virology. 

Daniel Erne, PhD, Member of the Board, CTO Bachem Holding AG 

Daniel Erne joined Bachem AG in 1987 as head of quality control. Since 1997 

he has been a member of the corporate executive committee of the Bachem 

Group and responsible for quality assurance and regulatory affairs. He 

studied chemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich 

(ETHZ) and then became a research fellow at the University of Utah, Salt Lake 

City and at ETHZ before joining Bachem AG. 



S C I E N T I F I C A D V I S O R Y B O A R D 

Besides its internal scientists, Pevion Biotech has established a scientific 

advisory board comprised of highly skilled experts, including academic 

researchers in immunology, biochemistry as well as clinical oncology. 

Professor Albert Osterhaus, PhD 

Professor Osterhaus is a world-renowned specialist for infectious diseases 

and vaccines. He studied and completed his doctorate at the University of 

Utrecht and held various positions at the National Institute of Public Health 

and Environment (RIVM) in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. He was directly 

involved in the establishment of three companies. Among other positions, 

Professor Osterhaus currently holds the position of Professor of Virology, 

Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam and is member of a number of WHO 

committees. 

Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia, MD, PhD 

Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia is a world-renowned immunologist with a 

research focus on different aspects of cellular immunology: antigen 

processing and presentation, dendritic cell biology, lymphocyte activation 

and lymphocyte traffic. He studied at the University of Pavia and then 

specialized in pediatrics and infectious diseases. He was a member of the 

staff at the Basel Institute for Immunology and became director of the 

Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Bellinzona and professor at the 

University of Siena. He was awarded the EMBO Medal in 1988 and the 

Cloëtta Prize in 1999. 

Professor Alan Gewirtz, MD, PhD 

The laboratory of Professor Alan Gewirtz focuses on the cell biology of 

normal and malignant human hematopoiesis. He began his studies at 

Colgate University and became assistant professor at Temple University 

School of Medicine. He then was appointed director of the Clinical 

Hematology Laboratory at Temple University Hospital as well as associate 

professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he currently heads the 

Hematologic Malignancies Program. 

Professor Josef Brunner, PhD 

Professor Josef Brunner’s most important research topics are the 

development of new photochemical marking methods to examine complex 

systems, the fusion of biological membranes as well as the role of lipids and 

lipid metabolites in signal transduction. He studied at Technical College 

(HTL) in Burgdorf, Switzerland and ETH Zurich, where he was awarded the 

ETH Silver Medal. After a postdoctorate at the Department of Molecular 

Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, he headed his own research 

group at ETH Zurich. 



V I R O S O M E - B A S E D T E C H N O L O G Y 



Virosomes are a market-approved carrier system for the delivery of 

immunologically active substances, allowing the correct spatial presentation 

of peptides and proteins and facilitating delivery of antigens. Therefore 

virosomes act as carrier and adjuvant. 

Virosomes consist of 

reconstituted empty influenza 

virus envelopes devoid of the 

nucleocapside, including the 

genetic material of the source 

virus. They are not able to 

replicate, but rather are pure 

fusion-active vesicles. In 

Influenza virus Virosome 

contrast to liposomes, 

virosomes contain functional 

viral envelope glycoproteins: 

influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase intercalated in the 

phospholipid bilayer membrane. 

The unique properties of virosomes partially relate to the presence of these 

glycoproteins. Not only do they confer structural stability and homogeneity 

to virosome formulations, but they significantly contribute to the 

immunological properties of virosomes, which are clearly distinct from other 

liposomal and proteoliposomal carrier systems. These proteins enable the 

virosome membranes to fuse with cells of the immune system and thus 

deliver their contents – the specific antigens – directly to their target cells, 

eliciting a specific first-class immune response even with weak-immunogenic 

antigens. Once they have delivered the antigens, the virosomes are 

completely metabolized. Conventional adjuvants like aluminum cannot be 

degraded by the body. 

M A N U F A C T U R I N G O F V I R O S O M E S 

In 2008 Pevion Biotech developed techniques to optimize synthetic multiepitope 

antigens and to attach antigens to virosomes after the formulation. 

Both techniques will reduce the manufacturing effort while keeping the 

optimal immune responses. 

Furthermore, fee-for-service activities were supplied by the technology 

group. In 2008 Pevion Biotech delivered customized formulations to several 

companies. 

Principle of lyophilization 

Working with synthetic peptides or recombinant proteins often has the 

disadvantage of limited stability. In addition, vaccines are temporarily 

exposed to elevated temperatures that cause losses in vaccine efficacy. 

Lyophilization (freeze-drying) is a process that is especially useful for 

enhancing stability for long-term storage of biological materials such as 

proteins and vaccines, and it can make refrigerated storage obsolete for 

normally temperature-sensitive materials. However, conventional "first 

generation" virosomes cannot be lyophilized without loss of 

immunogenicity, particle size homogeneity and the functional activity of the 

influenza HA. Therefore, Pevion Biotech has developed a new generation of 

virosomes which are able to induce strong immune responses and which 

feature improved storage and stability properties. This is combined with a 

simple and fast preparation method that offers a great flexibility in 

combining several specific antigens of choice while retaining the adjuvant 

properties and the excellent safety profile.


L E A D P R O J E C T S 2 0 0 8 

Development pipeline of Pevion Biotech 



Pevion Biotech’s product pipeline consists of vaccines to treat or prevent 

infectious diseases and cancer, representing high unmet medical needs: 

Breast cancer 

Malaria (partnered) 

Candidiasis 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) 

Influenza 

Additional products are in preclinical development. 

B R E A S T C A N C E R V A C C I N E 

Pevion Biotech’s approach 

Pevion Biotech and its Austrian partner Bio Life Sciences have jointly 

developed a vaccine against breast cancer which is based on a novel 

approach to cancer therapy. The approach is based on the Her-2/neu tumor 

antigen. A humoral immune response is induced through an active 

immunization with the virosome based vaccine. Two clinical validated and 

market approved elements – the well-established virosome technology and 

the Her-2/neu-antigen – are recombined to bring forth an innovative product 

candidate, while minimizing developmental risks. The vaccine candidate, 

which is currently in clinical testing, is designed to increase the time to 

disease progression and reduce the recurrence of disease and the 

development of metastases in particular. It is intended to be applied after 

standard treatment as well as in combination with chemotherapy. 

New in 2008: Clinical Phase I trial 

A Phase I clinical trial is currently ongoing in Vienna. The primary aim of the 

study is to examine the safety and tolerability of the synthetic vaccine. 

Secondary objectives include assessments of the vaccine’s immunogenicity. 

By the end of 2008, ten patients had been included in the study and received 

the lower dose of the vaccine. The preliminary results show good safety and 

immunogenicity data. Part II of the Phase I study with a cohort of up to ten 

patients receiving the higher dose of the vaccine is scheduled to begin in 

2009. 

Need for a breast cancer vaccine 

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. More 

than 1.2 million women worldwide are affected by breast cancer, irrespective 

of age and ethnicity. Some breast cancer patients in whom the Her-2/neu 

protein is strongly overexpressed can be treated with an immunotherapy – 

Herceptin® (Trastuzumab). The therapy with human-approved monoclonal 

antibodies is a passive immunization of the patient, targeting a diseaserelated 

molecule, but it must be repeated weekly or monthly and is very cost 

intensive.


M A L A R I A V A C C I N E ( P A R T N E R E D W I T H M Y M E T I C S ) 


The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a complex life cycle 

involving three stages in the human body. Pevion Biotech is therefore 

focusing on a multicomponent (multivalent) malaria vaccine: Each 

component targets another antigen specific to a defined development 

stage. Pevion Biotech uses its well-established virosome technology platform 

for the delivery of the newly developed peptide antigens into the human 

body. In subsequent steps the company has developed the vaccine 

formulations to clinical development. In 2007, clinical Phase IIa with the twocomponent 

malaria vaccine candidate was completed. 

New in 2008: Clinical Phase Ib started with the two-component malaria 

vaccine candidate in the malaria field in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The final 

clinical Ib study report will be completed in 2009. 

Need of a malaria vaccine 

Malaria remains one of the world’s greatest public health challenges. It is 

one of the biggest killers among communicable diseases today. An 

estimated 40% of the world’s population is at risk of malaria with 500 million 

cases annually, resulting in 1-2 million deaths each year, mostly young 

children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. The emergence of 

widespread resistance to anti-malaria drugs such as chloroquine and the 

difficulty of controlling the mosquito vector have hampered the control of 

the disease. As yet no vaccine is available. 

C A N D I D A V A C C I N E I N P R E C L I N I C A L D E V E L O P M E NT 


Pevion Biotech's candidiasis vaccine is a first-in-class product for the 

prevention and treatment of Candida albicans infections. The monovalent 

vaccine is specifically designed to prevent/treat recurrent or chronic 

vulvovaginal candidiasis. This indication was not accessible for conventional 

vaccines, whereas Pevion Biotech's proprietary technology allows the specific 

assessment of the pathogens infecting the human mucosa. The vaccine 

targets a high unmet medical need since chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis is 

currently treated with drugs having quite adverse effects und a limited longterm 

efficacy. 

Pevion Biotech's Candida vaccine is based on the rSap2 antigen, a 

recombinant truncated form of the native Sap2, coupled to the surface of 

virosomes. 

New in 2008: Pevion has licensed an antigen (SAP2) from the Istituto 

Superiore di Sanità (ISS) for production and further clinical development of 

its Candida vaccine. Furthermore, Pevion Biotech approached Lonza AG to 

develop a scalable process for the production of the recombinant Sap2 

protein. This process was successfully developed in 2008 and a cGMP 

production campaign is ready to be started. The molecule will be used to 

manufacture the monovalent anti-fungal vaccine, and Pevion Biotech plans a 

Phase I clinical trial to test the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in 

women. 



Need for a Candida vaccine 

Nearly 70%-75% of premenopausal women experience an attack of Candida 

vulvovaginitis. Half of these women have more than one episode of the 

infection during their childbearing years and about 5% of women with a 

primary episode have chronic vulvovaginal Candida infections with at least 3- 

4 episodes per year. OTC products (over the counter) are available for 

treatment of fungal infections. But the continuing increase in the incidence of 

infections together with the antifungal drug resistance show that there is a 

need of new antifungal treatment with a greater potential to prevent 

vulvovaginal or oral infections, especially chronic and/or recurrent infections, 

which pose serious problems for the overall health of the patients. 

R S V V A C C I N E I N P R E C L I N I C A L D E V E L O P M E N T 


Pevion Biotech develops its prophylactic RSV vaccine based on the RSV-Fprotein 

and its proprietary virosome technology platform. Due to the high 

incidence of RSV infections and the lack of treatment alternatives for elderly 

people, Pevion Biotech has identified a fundamental goal in the 

development of a vaccine for this target group. In vaccine development, 

safety issues are always of great importance and even more for weak target 

groups such as infants, immunosuppressed individuals or the elderly. So far, 

antibodies against the G and F proteins of RSV have been shown to be 

effective in neutralization of the virus. The G protein is largely responsible for 

the antigenic diversity between RSV subgroups. Therefore, Pevion Biotech is 

focusing on the development of a vaccine using the F protein. 

New in 2008: In 2008 preclinical tests were ongoing. Immunization of mice 

with virosomes carrying the recombinant RSV F displayed on the surface 

induced antibodies that were able to inhibit the viral infection in vitro and in 

vivo. Several other experiments indicate that this prototype of RSV vaccine is 

able to extend a good specific humoral and systemic immunity. 

Need of a RSV vaccine 

Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is traditionally regarded as a 

pediatric illness, it also causes pulmonary disease in the elderly, particularly 

those with underlying heart and lung disease, and in immune-compromised 

bone marrow recipients. Even though there is a tremendous need, no 

vaccine is yet available. RSV vaccine development is hampered by a number 

of obstacles, especially the risk of inducing enhanced illness. 

I N F L U E N Z A V A C C I N E 


Pevion Biotech is developing a broad-spectrum influenza vaccine based on 

an optimized synthetic M2e peptide combined with the virosome platform. A 

broad-spectrum influenza vaccine has significant advantages over the current 

products, because it can provide reliable protection against all circulating 

virus strains, independent of epidemiological forecasts. The intervals for redevelopment 

of the vaccine and immunization could be extended. A broadspectrum 

influenza vaccine even has potential as a precaution against a 

novel influenza pandemic. With all these advantages, such a novel product is 

likely to find higher acceptance than the current vaccine, and to increase the 

poor vaccination rate of 20% in the overall population. 



The key to a broad spectrum vaccine is a protective antigen which is highly 

conserved among all strains. It is generally accepted that Influenza A M2 

protein and in particular its ectodomain (M2e) is the best candidate. 

Antibodies against M2e are hardly induced by natural infection and not at all 

by conventional vaccines. But if present, antibodies against M2e protect 

effectively against influenza challenge. Antibodies against M2e cannot 

neutralize the virus, but their mode of action consists of tagging virusinfected 

cells for rapid elimination, thereby reducing virus replication and 

spread in an infected host. 

Need for a novel influenza vaccine 

Influenza virus infects 10-20% of the human population every year, resulting 

in 3-5 million cases of severe illness and up to 500’000 deaths. Currently 

available influenza vaccines protect effectively, but only against the virus 

strains included in the vaccine. The influenza virus constantly changes its 

envelope, and thus the composition of influenza vaccines needs to be 

adapted accordingly each year, based on epidemiological forecasts 

provided by the WHO. Finally, in order to provide protection against the 

novel virus strains, the vaccines must be administered each year. 



I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O P E R T Y 



Pevion Biotech's IP portfolio: Two patents granted in 2008 

It is Pevion Biotech’s intention to establish strong exclusive market niches 

sustained by strong and preferably exclusive intellectual property rights. The 

company's policy is to seek patent protection, whenever possible, 

commercially feasible and appropriate, with respect to any technology or 

product that is important to the development of the business and in any 

geographic area which is relevant for its business. 

The company’s proprietary platform technology – the virosome technology – 

provides a continuous vehicle to develop new prophylactic and therapeutic 

vaccines. Most of the company’s patents and patent applications protect the 

virosome technology by claiming various aspects and applications. 

Furthermore, the company has filed patent applications, which beyond the 

virosome technology cover new antigens which are used for the design of 

new and attractive vaccines. 

Currently Pevion Biotech’s patent portfolio consists of 10 patent families 

including 4 granted patents and more than 30 patent applications pending. 

Furthermore, Pevion Biotech holds exclusive licenses for the (basic) 

technology from Berna Biotech –a Crucell company – and Nika Health. The 

portfolio is supplemented by licenses from BLS (Vienna) and Ruhr-University 

Bochum for specific antigens in the field of breast cancer and RSV vaccine 

development. 

In 2008 Pevion Biotech filed two PCT applications and one Continuation 

application (US). Two patents were granted covering an important aspect of 

the technology (US7,329,807: ”High efficiency fusogenic vesicles and 

methods of producing them”) and an antigen for use in product 

development (US 7,378,495: “PTH-RP related peptides”) 

In line with its strategy to focus on continuous improvement of its technology 

and dedicated product development, the company in 2008 abandoned two 

patent families due to decreased economic interest. One patent of the family 

was sold to Intercell. 

Two patent families related to malaria antigens were assigned to Pevion 

Biotech’s collaboration partner Mymetics Corporation. Mymetics will 

continue Pevion Biotech’s product development of an efficient prophylactic 

Malaria vaccine.


Pevion Biotech Ltd. 

Worblentalstrasse 32 

CH-3063 Ittigen 

Switzerland 

Phone +41 31 550 44 44 

Fax +41 31 550 44 45 

info@pevion.com 

www.pevion.com

annual report 2008 - Pevion Biotech AG

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