Client Corner

Working with DVC to Stamp Out Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis

The "new" Commonwealth Biotechnologies is returning to its scientific roots: collaborating with clients to provide the highest quality scientific expertise and an exceptional technology base to support early-stage drug discovery.

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) is a mosquito-borne virus found in Central and South America that has killed hundreds of thousands of horses and afflicted tens of thousands of humans over the years. The disease, which causes severe, flu-like symptoms, sometimes leading to fatal encephalitis, is nasty enough that U.S. authorities have identified it as a potential bio-terror agent. VEE is on the CDC A list of Select Agents.

Last August, DynPort Vaccine Co. (DVC), a CSC company and a developer of biodefense vaccines and therapeutics, embarked upon Phase 1 clinical trials for a vaccine to protect against VEE. In administering the vaccine to horses and humans, the company needed a test to identify any traces of the virus shed by the vaccine. To develop that test, DVC turned to Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc.

CBI responded by analyzing the need, designing and developing the key assay and, subsequently, validating the assay to satisfy the FDA regulations that define the quality of data submitted to the agency in support of a new drug application. CBI is currently carrying out the assay in support of the ongoing clinical. "This is typical of the kind of projects at which we excel, essentially from concept to clinic" noted Thomas R. Reynolds, Executive Vice President, Science and Technology at CBI.

"We have a lot of admiration for CBI," says Dr. Donald Fine, senior director-manufacturing, testing and technical services at DVC. "We've had an excellent working relationship with them. They have a lot of very bright people down there. They do a lot to please us."

DVC has employed CBI in a number of endeavors, including assays, reagents and viral banks. Fine turns to CBI particularly when he needs to validate new assays to be used for testing purposes in clinical trials. On occasion, he's used CBI for small-scale manufacturing of special compounds as well.

"What does CBI bring to the table that is not easily found in the biotech world?" asks Fine rhetorically. "I'd say, they bring the brainpower in molecular biology and immunology that we need at DVC. They work with us hand in hand. They bring their experience to the table to solve our problems. We don't have to tell them how to do it."

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. 601 Biotech Drive, Richmond, VA 23235 800-735-9224 (800-RELY-CBI) FAX: 804-648-2641 email: info@cbi-biotech.com