ViraCyte Enters Exclusive License Agreement with Baylor College of Medicine for T Cell Immunotherapies Targeting Viruses

HOUSTON, July 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ViraCyte, LLC, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing cellular immunotherapies for severe infections, today announced that it has exercised its exclusive option with Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor) to license Baylor's virus-specific T cell therapy technology for the prevention and/or treatment of viral infections.

Under the terms of the agreement, Baylor has granted ViraCyte exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable rights to intellectual property surrounding a portfolio of T cell immunotherapies targeting viruses via the native T cell receptor (TCR) to prevent and treat viral infections. Baylor will receive an upfront license execution fee, ongoing maintenance fees, additional clinical and regulatory milestone payments, and royalties on net sales of successfully marketed products incorporating the licensed IP.

"We are honored to mature our partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the world's leading academic medical institutions, and a leader in developing novel T cell therapies," stated Dr. Brett Giroir, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer at ViraCyte. "With this license, ViraCyte will advance our lead product, Viralym-M, into pivotal trials for children and adults with severe viral infections following stem cell transplant." In ongoing Phase 2 studies reported by ViraCyte investigators at several international meetings, Viralym-M has demonstrated safety and over 94% efficacy in clearing viral infections that were refractory to conventional therapy.

"ViraCyte has demonstrated that it is an outstanding steward for our technologies, having garnered significant external funding and advancing two products into clinical trials.  We expect a long-term continued partnership with ViraCyte that will advance numerous new products into the market to treat thousands of patients with severe unmet medical needs," said Dr. Adam Kuspa, Senior Vice President and Dean of Research at Baylor College of Medicine. 

About ViraCyte, LLC                                                                                                              

ViraCyte's current products restore natural immunity against life threatening viruses in patients with severely weakened immune systems, such as adults and children who have recently undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). ViraCyte's lead T cell products are in Phase 2 and Phase 1 clinical trials, with effectiveness rates of greater than 94% in patients who have failed conventional therapy. More information can be found at www.viracyte.com

ViraCyte is a resident company at JLABS @ TMC, Houston, Texas.         

SOURCE ViraCyte, LLC

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http://www.viracyte.com/