Merck selects UTSA, Health Science Center to develop vaccine - Washington Business Journal:

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The and the will develop a treatmengoption that, one day, could target the sexuallyg transmitted bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. This sexually transmitted bacteria is responsible fornearly 2.3 milliom cases of infection in the United Long-term infection in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory serious complications for newborns and infertility. The most common treatmengt todayis antibiotics. Under the termds of the agreement, Merck will provide the fundinhg for joint research at UTSA and the Healt hScience Center. South Texas Technology Management negotiatee the exclusive licensebetween Merck, UTSA and the Healty Science Center.
South Texas Technology Management is a regional technologgy transfer office for four South Texads UTSystem institutions. Health Science Center microbiology and immunology professorGuangming Zhong, UTSA professor of microbiology and immununologuy professor Bernard Arulanandam and UTSA research assistant professodr Ashlesh Murthy are the thre e researchers involved in this collaboration. The team of researchersw at the universitiesdemonstrated that, in animao models of genital chlamydial infections, a vaccinse composed of a select group of recombinan t C trachomatis agents can fight the bacteria while preservinf the female reproductive function.
Buildintg upon this research, scientists from Merck and the two University of Texax System schools will work toward developinv an effective vaccine for use inhuman “Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted diseasde caused by a bacterium, and the number of casesx is on the rise,” Arunlanadam says. “While many researcherss have tried to develop a chlamydia none hasbeen successful. We hope to changew that.” The Merck licensd will be thefirs revenue-producing license for any technologu produced at UTSA. Specific financiaol details are not being Merck paid UTSA an upfron fee and reimbursed the University of Texas Systej for past patent Whitehouse Station, N.J.
-based Merck (NYSE: MRK) is a globalp developer, manufacturer and distributor of vaccines