Accelerated Drug and Vaccine Development

BII is advancing biomedical discovery to combat socially relevant infectious diseases in Eurasia and throughout the world.

The objectives of the Accelerated Drug and Vaccine Development (ADV) component of the Initiative are:

• Advancing biomedical discovery to combat socially relevant infectious diseases in Eurasia and throughout the world.
• Catalyzing technology development at Eurasian Research Institutes and promoting the pipeline of novel therapies and diagnostics for the Eurasian biotechnology sector in partnership with U.S. Industry.
• Bringing new Eurasian biotechnologies to the U.S. by supporting Intellectual Property (IP) Management and facilitating Licensing and Co-development arrangements with Western Industry partners.

BII also actively partners Eurasian research institutes with counterparts in U.S. Academia and Industry to advance biomedical research and public health, as well as to achieve the strategic goal of building internationally networked, self-sustainable, peaceful research institutions in Eurasia.

Highlights of Select BII Partner Projects:

Pioneering Avian Influenza Surveillance in Russia

A U.S. – Russian collaboration catalyzed and funded by BII has established a Russian Avian Flu Surveillance Network in Siberia, based at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, VECTOR, in the Novosibirsk Region. In 2005, this project identified the first strains of the highly pathogenic H5N1 variant of the avian flu virus in Russia [Shestopalov et al., Emerg. Infect. Dis. 12, 1167–69 (2006)]. This BII-sponsored endeavor continues to track influenza strains in migratory birds, poultry and animals in Siberia, functioning as a vital early warning system to Russian and worldwide public health authorities.

Bringing Novel Russian Biotechnology to the U.S.

The Initiative is actively developing mechanisms for the commercialization of technology arising from research funded by BII and other U.S. Government Programs. These public-private partnerships are being catalyzed by BII through intellectual property (IP) management, and licensing and co-development arrangements with Western industry partners.

• Scientists at a BII Partner Institution developed novel technology for the rapid detection of a substance that signals pre-cancerous phases of cervical cancer before tumor formation. In cooperation with the inventors, BII completed a strategic PCT (Patent Convention Treaty) filing, and facilitated a licensing and co-development partnership with a major U.S. biotechnology company.
• In 2005, the BII partner institution, Biocad LLC, introduced Genferon™, a novel Interferon- b based therapeutic for treating urogenital infections in Russia. BII sponsored a strategic PCT filing for the product, and is currently facilitating negotiations between Biocad LLC and multiple Western companies for licensing the product in the U.S. and multiple markets worldwide.

Development of Novel Therapeutics and Diagnostics

The Initiative is fostering the development of a range of novel therapeutics and biotechnologies through multiple projects at Russian and CIS partner institutions in collaboration with top-notch U.S. partners:

• Preclinical development and production of a novel form of L-Asparaginase, which is used to treat children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, through a multi-institutional endeavor;
• Scale-up and production of an Interferon- b therapeutic to combat multiple sclerosis at Biocad LLC;
• RNA-based immunomodulators at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, VECTOR ;
• Next generation cancer diagnostics based on the Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) developed by the State Research Institute of Highly Pure Biopreprartions, St. Petersburg, in collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston;
• Novel laser technology for the enhancement of vaccine efficacy developed by GORMEZIS, St Petersburg; and
• Innovative burn care products from JSC Delivery Systems International (DELSI).