Plumline, with patents and technical support from the U.S.-based DNA vaccine developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals which owns a 20-percent stake in Plumline, will develop DNA vaccines for horses in Korea. (image: Vincent Lee/flickr)
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – A bio-pharmaceutical company armed with DNA-based vaccines and therapies for animals will set up a research center in Pangyo Techno Valley and develop vaccines for horse-related diseases in cooperation with the Gyeonggi provincial government and Hankyong National University.
Gyeonggi Province announced on August 3 that it signed an agreement with Plumline Life Sciences and the university for a joint R&D project on August 1. According to the terms of the agreement, Plumline, the bio-pharma company, will build the R&D facility including a pharmaceutical plant in the techno valley by investing US$10 million.
Plumline, with patents and technical support from the U.S.-based DNA vaccine developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals which owns a 20-percent stake in Plumline, will develop DNA vaccines for horses in Korea. For the project, the provincial government will offer administrative supports while Hankyong University taking the part of clinical trials.
“This agreement will make possible the commercialization of DNA vaccines on the infrastructure prepared for the horse medicine industry jointly by our province, Plumline and Hankyong University. We will provide unlimited administrative supports for the career advancement of the R&D talents in life sciences and DNA vaccines exports.”
Nam Kyung-pil, Gyeonggi Province governor
Unlike the conventional vaccines which use weakened or dead bacteria, DNA vaccines which are made of artificial DNA clones of microbes or bacteria are called “dream vaccines,” as they can treat incurable diseases with the existing vaccines with its strength generating genetic information automatically without any side effects.
An official with the provincial government said, “A considerable number of horses for racing or riding is suffering from arthritis, but there is no medicine for them as of now. If the project succeeds, it will play a pioneering role in horse medicine.”
Kim Kyung-tae, president and CEO of Plumline, said, “We have a mission to facilitate the development of DNA vaccines and hope the agreement could result in actual investment. I’m very thrilled with the chance to export DNA vaccines for which we are dependent on imports now.”
Not only the horse medicine industry, the provincial government expects that the joint agreement will also help in developing DNA cancer-targeting drugs for pets like dogs and cats and other technologies for the livestock industry.
Nam Kyung-pil, Gyeonggi Province governor, said, “This agreement will make possible the commercialization of DNA vaccines on the infrastructure prepared for the horse medicine industry jointly by our province, Plumline and Hankyong University. We will provide unlimited administrative supports for the career advancement of the R&D talents in life sciences and DNA vaccines exports.”
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
