Avecia and Illumigen Biosciences Inc., a genomics-driven drug discovery and development company, have entered into an agreement for the process development and manufacture of Illumigen’s lead development product, IB657, for the treatment of Hepatitis C and other RNA viruses. 

Under the agreement, terms of which have not been disclosed, Avecia will carry out development work to optimize the drug manufacturing process and conduct initial cGMP manufacture of IB657 in Avecia’s ABC1000 biologics facility in the Tees Valley, UK.  This manufacturing agreement will provide Illumigen with IB657 in sufficient quantities to complete Phase 1a clinical trials in Hepatitis C-infected patients.
 
Avecia’s VP Commercial Development, Dr. Stephen Taylor, said: “We are delighted that Illumigen, a company with an innovative approach to drug development, has chosen to work with Avecia on their promising lead program.  We believe our excellence in process development will create a scaleable manufacturing process to support the clinical advancement of IB657.”

Dr. Charles Magness, president and chief operating officer of Illumigen, said “We are pleased to be working with Avecia on the development of an efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process for IB657. We look forward to the successful completion of the project, and the supply of IB657 for human clinical trials.”