Gallant Custom Laboratories Buys Vetrepharm's Bacterin Division

Vetrepharm, the animal health business unit of Canadian biopharmaceutical company Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (London, ON), has reached an agreement to sell its autogenous bacterin service to Gallant Custom Laboratories (Cambridge, ON). Under terms of the agreement, Vetrepharm will receive an undisclosed upfront fee, ongoing royalty payments, and a second milestone payment based on sales performance.

The autogenous bacterin service manufactures bacterins prepared from the exact strain isolated in a disease outbreak for use in that same group of animals. Typically, these bacterins are prepared when a federally licensed, commercially available bacterin does not adequately control the disease problem.

Vetrepharm decided to sell the product line to focus on producing large market opportunity vaccines. The company is currently developing a comprehensive recombinant Rota/Corona and E.coli vaccine for the global cattle market, and is seeking an expanded indication for its proprietary immune stimulant product, Immunoboost.

Gallant Custom Laboratories Inc. specializes in manufacturing autogenous biologics for the veterinary industry, and offers diagnostic services.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary products for human and veterinary markets worldwide. The company's Vetrepharm business unit develops vaccines and other pharmaceutical based products for the preventive health management of animal diseases.

For more information: Natalie Godbout, Manager, Corporate Communications, Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., 383 Sovereign Rd. London, ON, Canada, N6M 1A3. Tel: 800-567-2028. Email: ngodbout@bioniche.com.

Edited by Jim Pomager