ProMetic to commercialise prion capture technology

Canadian biopharmaceutical firm ProMetic Life Sciences has signed an agreement with Abraxis BioScience to develop and commercialise various applications deriving from ProMetic's prion capture technology platform. As part of the agreement, Abraxis and ProMetic will share development costs for these applications as well as the financial rewards arising from their commercialisation.

ProMetic says the agreement will allow it to accelerate development of prion capture technology and extend its reach into emerging unmet markets.

Pierre Laurin, chief executive of ProMetic, said: "ProMetic will greatly benefit from Abraxis' significant resources and knowledge in bringing therapeutics to market. Abraxis' international reach and relevant experience in improving the safety profile of established therapies, in conjunction with ProMetic's expertise and technological assets in this field, will surely deliver a winning combination."

This agreement complements ProMetic's other commercial arrangements regarding the prion capture technology platform, such as those with MacoPharma for the commercialisation of the P-Capt prion capture filter and with Octapharma for OctaplasLG, the only commercially available prion-reduced plasma for transfusion.