January 23, 2015 – Sudbury, Ontario
Vaccines have the power to prevent infections that cause cancer – familiar examples include Gardasil and Cervarix to prevent HPV infections that cause cervical cancer. Researchers at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC) and Lilly Creek Vaccines are harnessing this principle to develop a new vaccine to combat and eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection in Canada. H. pylori is a bacterium that infects the inner lining of the stomach and can cause gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer.
As part of this two-year, $575,000 agreement, NRC's Vaccine Program will design a candidate vaccine using glycoconjugate antigens that stimulate the immune system. NRC will also carry out preclinical testing to determine its efficacy. If results are positive, preclinical research and clinical trials in high-risk populations in northern Canada will be conducted by Lilly Creek Vaccines, a new venture created by AMRIC.
Particularly at risk for H. pylori infections are Canada's northern communities, where infection rates range from 50 to 60 percent compared to about 20-30 percent nationally. The parties hope to develop a vaccine that will eradicate H. pylori infection in Canada.
“NRC is a pioneer in glycoconjugate vaccines; we obtained the first patent in this field and discovered the Meningitis C vaccine, which has saved countless lives worldwide. We are proud to work with Lilly Creek Vaccines to co-develop a vaccine against H. pylori that could improve health outcomes for Canadians, especially in our northern communities.”
Dr. Roman Szumski, Vice-President, Life Sciences, NRC
“We are pleased to initiate this agreement with a first class organization such as NRC. If successfully developed, a vaccine against H. pylori would be a valuable intervention for which there is significant market pull. We look forward to developing this vaccine with the resources of NRC and AMRIC.”
Sean Thompson, President and CEO, Lilly Creek Vaccines
“At AMRIC, we believe that research is patient care, and this vaccine for Helicobacter pylori could change the way we look at this infection that affects vulnerable populations. The partnership between NRC, AMRIC and Lilly Creek Vaccines brings together resources and talent to Northern Ontario and it will enhance our chances of success in managing this infectious disease.”
Dr. Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, CEO and Scientific Director, AMRIC
Media Relations Team
National Research Council of Canada
613-991-1431
1-855-282-1637 (24/7)
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Twitter: @nrc_cnrc
Sean Thompson, President and CEO
Lilly Creek Vaccines
705-523-7300 x1995
sethompson@amric.ca
Jesse Brady, Media Relations
AMRIC
705-561-8539
jbrady@hsnsudbury.ca
