annual report 2007 - Pevion Biotech AG

annual report 2007 

Pevion Biotech Ltd. 

Rehhagstrasse 79 

CH-3018 Bern 

Switzerland 

Phone +41 31 980 62 03 

Fax +41 31 980 66 18 

info@pevion.com 

www.pevion.com

2007 ANNUAL REPORT 2 

C O N T E N T S 

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

HIGHLIGHTS 2007 ............................................................................................... 4 

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

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

LEAD PROJECTS 2007 ........................................................................................ 9 

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

Pevion_Biotech_annual_report_2007.doc


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_2007.doc 

2007 A N N U A L R E P O R T 

2007 was an important year for Pevion Biotech. Five years after the founding 

of the company and soon after passing of a comprehensive due diligence, 

Pevion Biotech raised 35 million Swiss francs (about 22 million euros) in a 

Series A private financing round and "attracted the most investment in 

Europe" (SCRIP, August 17, 2007: Private investment round-up early August). 

On August 10, 2007 the company closed the round led by BZ Bank. New 

investors joining the Series A also included BB Biotech Ventures II, L.P. and 

CC Private Equity Partners Ltd. The founding investor Bachem Holding AG 

also participated in this financing round. With the secured funds Pevion 

Biotech expects to have resources for about 3-4 years. 

Pevion Biotech’s competitive advantages predominantly lie in the marketapproved 

virosome technology, which benefits from complete patent 

protection. The industrial experience and the broad applicability of this 

carrier enable an accelerated product development process. Together with 

its excellent safety profile, which also includes broad experience with 

children, the elderly and immune-suppressed persons, Pevion Biotech could 

further strengthen its product pipeline. In 2007 the company had three of its 

products in clinical testing. The malaria vaccine, the most advanced one, was 

in clinical Phase IIa, whereas a breast cancer vaccine and the hepatitis C 

vaccine was in clinical Phase I. Additionally, a malaria vaccine Phase Ib trial 

sponsored by the Swiss Tropical Institute (STI)was initiated in an epidemic 

region (Tanzania). 

In 2007 the company started to plan the move to a new facility in 2008. New 

premises in Ittigen were selected and detailed plans were ready by the end 

of 2007. The facility will include state-of-the-art laboratories, space for a GMP 

unit and office space. The new project is considerably supported by the Bern 

Economic Development Agency. 

In October 2007 Pevion Biotech was winner of the Life Sciences Prize in 

Basel. The prize, worth 10,000 Swiss francs, stands under the patronage of 

the Swiss Biotech Association and BioValley Basel. It is awarded to “to a 

Swiss Life Sciences firm with the potential for significant scientific and 

economic success”. 

2007 was a good fiscal year, as the company received an up-front payment of 

several million Swiss francs for an outlicensed product. This puts Pevion 

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

2008. 

I want to thank all employees and the Pevion Biotech's Board of Directors for 

their work in building this young company. Their tremendous dedication has 

placed our company in a very good position for the year 2008. 

Sincerely, 

Peter Klein 

CEO Pevion Biotech AG


H I G H L I G H T S 2 0 0 7 


2 0 0 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T 

Pevion Biotech Acquires License for RSV Vaccine from Ruhr 

University Bochum 

Pevion Biotech has acquired a license (partial use rights!) for the RSV vaccine. 

The vaccine is based on an optimized expression system for mammalian 

cells. In combination with its innovative virosome technology Pevion Biotech 

is developing a new vaccine against RSV. 

Pevion Biotech and Mymetics Enter License Agreement 

Mymetics has signed an exclusive license for the use of Pevion Biotech's 

virosome-based technology platform for the development and production of 

an HIV vaccine. 

EU Grant for Pevion Biotech's Malaria Vaccine 

The EU has awarded several million euros in grants to a total of 13 European 

companies and research institutes, of which Pevion Biotech received 330,000 

euros. The grant was awarded to universities and companies in the field of 

malaria research and will support the development and clinical studies of 

Pevion Biotech's safe and effective multicomponent PeviPRO TM malaria 

vaccine. 

Due Diligence 2007 

In Q1/Q2 2007 Pevion Biotech concentrated on the preparation of all 

documents which are essential for due diligence. 

Pevion Biotech Secures CHF 35 Million in Series A Financing 

Round 

In August 2007 Pevion Biotech closed a CHF 35 million Series A private 

financing round. The round was led by the new investor BZ Bank 

Aktiengesellschaft. New investors joining the Series A round also include BB 

Biotech Ventures II, L.P. and CC Private Equity Partners Ltd. The current 

investor Bachem Holding AG also participated in this financing round. 

Pevion Biotech's Board of Directors Elects New Members 

In September 2007 Pevion Biotech announced the appointment of Dr. Klaus 

Breiner, BB Biotech Ventures, and Dr. Joseph Manko, BZ Bank 

Aktiengesellschaft, as new members to the company’s board of directors. 

Pevion Biotech Winner of the Life Sciences Prize 2007 

The prize, worth 10,000 Swiss francs, was awarded for the fourth time. It 

stands under the patronage of the Swiss Biotech Association and BioValley 

Basel, and is intended for young Swiss companies in the Biotech, Pharma 

and Medtech sectors. Sponsors of the Swiss Life Sciences Prize are 

BioMedinvest, Novartis Venture Fund, Varuma and Venture Incubator. 

Strong IP Portfolio 

Pevion Biotech extended its portfolio in 2007 by filing two additional priority 

claiming patent applications and one international patent application.


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



Pevion Biotech is a privately owned Swiss biopharmaceutical company 

focusing on the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines to 

prevent/treat infectious diseases and cancer. For its vaccine development, 

the company uses its 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 and permits the targeting of diseases 

where so far no appropriate treatment is available. 

Since its foundation as an industrial spin-off in 2002 the company has been 

focusing on the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines to treat and 

prevent infectious and chronic diseases. The target indications represent 

major medical needs, including breast cancer, hepatitis C, candidiasis, RSV 

and malaria. Three virosome-based vaccine candidates are currently in 

clinical development. 

Pevion Biotech has the most complete patent portfolio consisting of license 

rights and of patents and patent applications filed directly by the company. 

The Intellectual Property Rights cover various aspects and applications of the 

technology. The company is also owner of various registered trademarks. 

At the end of 2007 Pevion Biotech had a staff of 21 research fellows, 9 of 

whom have a PhD. 

Pevion Biotech's product pipeline as of December 31, 2007 

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 his 

employment at 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 employment 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, CBO Crucell 

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, 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 

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. 



Joseph Manko, PhD, Member of the Board, BZ Bank 

Joseph Manko is an investment banker with extensive experience in the 

international securities markets. At BZ Bank, he is responsible for corporate 

finance and event-driven strategies. Prior to BZ Bank, Dr. Manko had been 

with Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch in London, New York and Hong Kong. 

Joseph Manko holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of 

Pennsylvania. 

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, DVM, 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 

pharmaceutically or immunologically active substances, allowing the correct 

spatial presentation of peptides and proteins and facilitating delivery of a 

vaccine without the use of an adjuvant. They consist of reconstituted empty 

influenza virus envelopes devoid of the nucleocapside, including the genetic 

material of the source virus. 

Influenza virus Virosome 

Virosomes are not able to 

replicate, but rather are pure 

fusion-active vesicles. In 

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. They not only 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. 

PeviPRO TM and PeviTER TM represent Pevion Biotech's key technology:


N E W I N 2 0 0 7 : M A N U F A C T U R I N G O F L Y O P H I L I Z E D 

V I R O S O M E S 

Pevion Biotech is constantly seeking to optimize its vaccine candidates. 

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, display a 

good antigen encapsulation rate and 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. 

In 2007 Pevion Biotech successfully manufactured the first lyophilized 

product for the PeviPRO TM platform, which is the malaria vaccine candidate 

PEV3B. The lyophilized product meets the stability criteria as expected. 

Furthermore, fee-for-service activities in the technology group could be 

increased; in 2007 Pevion Biotech delivered custom formulations to six 

companies, of which Mymetics Corp. with its HIV project was the main 

customer. 

L E A D P R O J E C T S 2007 

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 

Hepatitis C (HCV) 

Candidiasis 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) 

Malaria 

Additional products are in preclinical development.


P E V I P R O TM B R E A S T C A N C E R V A C C I N E I 

Pevion Biotech has designed a multivalent breast cancer vaccine for patients 

in whom the HER-2/neu oncoprotein is overexpressed. In collaboration with 

Bio Life Science (BLS) , a biotech company located in Vienna, the protein 

sequence of the extracellular domain (ECD) of the human Her-2/neu protein 

was scanned by computer-aided prediction, and three peptides were 

selected for further investigation. These three synthetic Her-2/neu antigenderived 

peptides are presented to the immune system in multiple copies on 

the surface of virosomes based on the PeviPRO TM technology platform. 

Ongoing clinical Phase I 

A Phase I clinical trial started in September 2006 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 2007, eight patients have been included in the study. The 

preliminary results show good safety and immunogenicity data. The study is 

scheduled for completion by the end of 2008. 

Advantages of 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. 

H C V : T H E R A P E U T I C V A C C I N E I N C L I N I C A L P H A S E I 

Pevion Biotech's therapeutic HCV vaccine is based on Pevion Biotech’s 

proprietary PeviTER TM technology and has been tested for its safety and 

immunogenicity. 

New in 2007: Start of Phase I of Pevion Biotech's hepatitis C vaccine 

Phase I clinical testing of Pevion Biotech's virosome-based hepatitis C virus 

(HCV) vaccine started in January 2007. The study is being conducted under 

the direction of Professor Giuseppe Pantaleo, MD, at the Vaccine and 

Immunotherapy Center at the University Hospital in Lausanne. Data are not 

yet available. 

Improvement of virosome-based technology 

In October 2007 a scientific paper describing the new type of virosome that 

can be lyophilized without loss of activity and immunogenicity was published 

in the renowned journal Vaccine. This allowed the presentation of Pevion 

Biotech's achievements to a larger audience. 

Need of a HCV vaccine 

Hepatitis C is one of the most common blood-borne infections. It is 

considered a serious health problem affecting 200 million people worldwide. 

85% of infected persons cannot eliminate the virus and about 70% develop 

chronic hepatitis. Many of the chronically infected are at risk of developing 

liver cirrhosis (20%) and/or liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) (1-5% 

per year). So far, combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin is the only 

treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Unfortunately up to 60% of all HCV- 



infected patients do not experience significant long-term benefits from this 

therapy. Despite great need, no vaccine is yet available. 

P E V I P R O TM 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 N T 

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 of the PeviPRO TM technology platform. It is designed to prevent 

candidal vulvovaginitis. 

New in 2007: Successful Preclinical Studies in different animal models 

for Pevion Biotech's Candida Vaccine 

The preclinical phase of the project which started in 2007 and has clearly 

demonstrated that intravaginal administration of the virosome-based vaccine 

in rats generates a good immune response to the native protein in the 

vagina and at the same time confers protection against Candida infection. 

Additionally, it has been proven that the virosome-based component 

enhances both immunogenicity and protective activity of the antigen without 

the addition of the most common mucosal adjuvants. 

Studies on long-term efficacy of the vaccine in rats have confirmed that the 

intravaginal application of the virosomes containing the antigen induces 

protection and persistence of the antibodies in the vagina over long time 

intervals. 

Need of a candida vaccine 

Vaginal candida infections have emerged as a significant medical problem 

during the last few decades. Candida species usually reside as commensal 

organisms as part of an individual’s normal microflora and can be detected in 

approximately 50% of the population in this form. However, if the balance of 

the normal flora is disrupted, Candida species become pathogenic. Several 

drugs, especially OTC products (over the counter), are available for 

treatment of fungal infections, but given the continuing increase in the 

incidence of infections together with the antifungal drug resistance, Candida 

infections pose a significant public health problem. 

The majority of cases of Candida vulvovaginitis occur in about 70% of 

premenopausal women at least once during their reproductive lives. About 

30% of women experience recurrent episodes of the infection during their 

childbearing years. About 5% of women with a primary episode subsequently 

experience chronic vulvovaginal Candida infections with at least 3-4 episodes 

within one year. 

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. 

Pevion Biotech, together with ISS, Rome, identified an optimal antigen for a 

vaccine against candidiasis. In 2006 the project finished the conceptual 

phase and entered preclinical development. 



P E V I P R O TM R S V V A C C I N E 

Pevion Biotech is developing its prophylactic RSV vaccine based on its 

proprietary PeviPRO TM technology platform. In 2006 the RSV vaccine was 

further developed and reached preclinical development in 2007. 

New in 2007: Start of CTI-sponsored collaboration for the development 

of a fusion protein based RSV vaccine 

In 2007 Pevion Biotech started collaboration with Professor Florian Wurm, 

PhD at EPFL, Lausanne and Professor Christiane Zaborosch , PhD at ZHAW 

on the development of a recombinant RSV vaccine based on the fusion 

protein of the virus. The recombinant production of the F-protein is achieved 

by transient transfection of mammalian cells in the laboratory of Florian 

Wurm, an expert in this technology with a lot of experience in transient 

expression of various genes. The recombinant protein has proven to be 

processed similarly to the viral protein and could be purified by the 

protective mAb Synagis, demonstrating proper processing and folding of the 

corresponding epitope of the protein, respectively. Immunization of mice 

with virosomes carrying the rec. RSV F displayed on the surface induced 

antibodies that were able to inhibit the viral infection in vivo to a similar 

extent as the viral protein. Purification of the F protein by affinity 

chromatography is not suitable for large scale production, thus, an 

alternative purification method based on exchange and hydrophobic 

interaction has been developed in the laboratory of Christiane Zaborosch. 

This material is used for challenge experiments in cotton rats, which were 

started in December 2007. 

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 immunocompromised 

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. 

P E V I P R O TM M A L A R I A V A C C I N E 

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 

PeviPRO TM 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. 

New in 2007: Clinical Phase IIa with the two-component malaria vaccine 

candidate 

A Clinical Phase IIa study was completed in 2006, and the final analysis was 

available 2007. Although the vaccinated volunteers did not show sterile 

protection against the strong artificial challenge, the data demonstrated 

inhibitory effects of the vaccination on the development of the parasite. 

Parasites numbers within the blood were significantly lower after vaccination, 

and the number of parasites leaving the liver also showed a tendency to 



lower parasite load in the vaccinees. Parasites within the blood showed an 

unusual morphology ("crisis forms") that has been correlated with protection 

in other studies. Unfortunately, an artificial challenge situation does not allow 

the follow-up of the parasite development within the blood of the 

challenged volunteers. The effect of vaccination on the blood stage of the 

parasite can only be tested in the context of field trials in endemic areas. A 

Clinical Phase Ib testing of the malaria vaccine candidate in an epidemic area 

in Tanzania was planned and arranged during 2007 and will be started in 

January 2008. 

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 are 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. 

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 additional applications in 2007 

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. 

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

and dedicated product development, the company in 2007 assigned one 

patent family related to a new adjuvant which was not in use for any product 

development. However, to extend its portfolio, Pevion Biotech filed two 

priority claiming patent applications and one international patent application 

(PCT) in 2007 related to new product antigens and the virosome technology 

respectively. 

Two patents were granted to Pevion Biotech in 2007 covering an important 

aspect of the technology and an antigen used in product development. 

In total, by the end of 2007 Pevion Biotech owned 14 patent families related 

to the virosome technology and the product-specific aspects of every 

individual product candidate in development. These 14 families consist of 2 

granted patents and 41 patent applications. The IP portfolio furthermore 

comprises several patent families licensed from third parties.


Pevion Biotech Ltd. 

Rehhagstrasse 79 

CH-3018 Bern 

Switzerland 

Phone +41 31 980 62 03 

Fax +41 31 980 66 18 

info@pevion.com 

www.pevion.com

annual report 2007 - Pevion Biotech AG

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