Rotavirus vaccine--AVANT immunotherapeutics/GlaxoSmithKline: 89-12, RIX4414

GlaxoSmithKline is developing a two-dose, oral rotavirus vaccine [Rotarix] under a licensing agreement with AVANT Immunotherapeutics. Rotarix is a live attenuated human rotavirus strain, which was developed by AVANT in collaboration with the JN Gamble Institute of Medical Research in the US. Originally, the research partner for the JN Gamble Institute was the Virus Research Institute, but the latter company merged with T Cell Sciences in August 1998 to form AVANT Immunotherapeutics. In 1997, AVANT signed an agreement with SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) for collaboration in the development of Rotarix. In December 2000 SmithKline Beecham merged with Glaxo Wellcome to form GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The agreement grants GlaxoSmithKline exclusive worldwide marketing rights to the vaccine in exchange for royalties, licence fees and milestone payments to AVANT. Under the agreement, GlaxoSmithKline assumed all responsibilities for the development and manufacture of the vaccine following the successful completion of the US phase II study of Rotarix, for which AVANT received a milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline.