Ipsen and EpiVax to collaboratively develop botulinum toxins

Ipsen has announced a new collaboration with the US company EpiVax to develop next-generation botulinum neurotoxin and targeted secretion inhibitor (TSI) therapeutics.

The work will build on Ipsen's efforts to develop an innovative platform of novel neurotoxin-derived therapeutics, including TSI, in order to address various medical conditions with unmet need.

EpiVax will move the programme forward, continuing the development of new products for clinical use in neuromuscular health and aesthetic treatments. The results of the research are being presented at the Interagency Botulism Research Coordinating Committee meeting this week.

The work will allow the companies to capitalise on opportunities in the growing global biologics market.

Claude Bertrand, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer of Ipsen, said: "This work is part of Ipsen's commitment to apply modern protein engineering and recombinant protein expression to enable development of novel and improved botulinum neurotoxin products for increased therapeutic utility and patient care."