Intercell
Encyclopedia
Intercell AG is a biotechnology company based in Vienna
which focuses on the development of modern prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine
s against infectious diseases. Intercell was formed in 1998 as a spin-off
of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
(IMP) in Vienna.
It employs 400 people in Austria, Scotland and the United States.
It has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since February 28, 2005. In 2008, Intercell signaled its intent to acquire Maryland
-based Iomai
, a developer of needle-free vaccination technology.
Intercell cooperates with pharmaceutical companies
like Novartis
, Merck
and Sanofi-Aventis
on vaccine production.
The most important projects of Intercell are:
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
which focuses on the development of modern prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s against infectious diseases. Intercell was formed in 1998 as a spin-off
Research spin-off
A research spin-off is a company that falls into at least one of the four following categories:#Companies that have an equity investment from a national library or university#Companies that license technology from a public research institute or university...
of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology is a basic biomedical research center sponsored largely by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, and located in the Campus Vienna Biocenter ....
(IMP) in Vienna.
It employs 400 people in Austria, Scotland and the United States.
It has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since February 28, 2005. In 2008, Intercell signaled its intent to acquire Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-based Iomai
IOMAI
IOMAI was a Biotech company founded in 1997 by Gregory Glenn M.D. of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Dean Lewis, a World Bank employee. The company was the first to develop the concept of transcutaneous immunization, delivery of vaccines to the skin using a patch or similar method...
, a developer of needle-free vaccination technology.
Intercell cooperates with pharmaceutical companies
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
like Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
, Merck
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
and Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi S.A. is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, the world's fourth-largest by prescription sales. Sanofi engages in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for sale principally in the prescription market, but the...
on vaccine production.
The most important projects of Intercell are:
- Vaccine against Japanese encephalitisJapanese EncephalitisJapanese encephalitis —previously known as Japanese B encephalitis to distinguish it from von Economo's A encephalitis—is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. The Japanese encephalitis virus is a virus from the family Flaviviridae. Domestic pigs and wild birds are...
(approved in Europe, America and Australia)
- Therapeutic vaccine against hepatitis CHepatitis CHepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
(in clinical phase II) - AntigenAntigenAn antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
identification program and adjuvantAdjuvantAn adjuvant is a pharmacological or immunological agent that modifies the effect of other agents, such as a drug or vaccine, while having few if any direct effects when given by itself...
technologies. - Vaccine Enhancement Patch to improve prevention against pandemic influenzaInfluenzaInfluenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
(in collaboration with U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesUnited States Department of Health and Human ServicesThe United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, in clinical phase II)