Sanofi-Aventis, Oxford BioMedica to Co-Develop Cancer Therapy

French drugmaker sanofi-aventis and UK-based Oxford BioMedica have entered into an exclusive global license agreement to develop and commercialize TroVax for the treatment and prevention of cancer.

TroVax is Oxford BioMedica's lead cancer immunotherapy. This therapeutic vaccine has been evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 180 patients with various forms of cancer. A Phase III trial in renal cancer, TRIST, is ongoing.

Under the terms of this agreement, sanofi-aventis will make an initial payment to Oxford BioMedica of 29 million euros and 19 million euros in milestone payments during the course of the TRIST study, and it will pay other milestone payments based on progress in the development and registration of the product. The total amount paid by sanofi-aventis in upfront payments, support for the ongoing study and clinical and regulatory milestone payments could reach 518 million euros.

The companies will co-fund the ongoing TRIST study. Sanofi-aventis will fund all future research, development and regulatory and commercialization activities, including the immediate implementation of a development plan for TroVax in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Sanofi-aventis will be responsible for the commercialization of TroVax worldwide, and Oxford BioMedica may exercise an option to promote TroVax in the U.S. and the European Union. Oxford BioMedica also is entitled to escalating royalties on global sales of TroVax and sales milestones.