Canadian Biotech and S. Korean Conglomerate Sign Agreement to Market Classical Swine Fever Vaccine Globally

Canadian biopharma company PlantForm granted exclusive rights to import, sell and distribute plant-based vaccine in North America, Brazil and Argentina

GUELPH, ON, Oct. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadian biopharmaceutical company PlantForm Corporation and POSCO International, South Korea's largest trading company, have signed a Commercialization Agreement to bring HERBAVAC™, the world's first plant-based vaccine for Classical Swine Fever (CSF), to global markets.

The agreement, signed during a virtual event, formalizes a Memorandum of Understanding announced in May between the companies and Bioapp Inc., the South Korea-based developer of HERBAVAC™.

Dr. Don Stewart, PlantForm President and CEO, speaks at a contract signing with POSCO International and Bioapp via video link (CNW Group/PlantForm Corporation)

Although harmless to humans, CSF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar populations, causing severe illness and death in millions of swine each year with significant economic consequences for farmers and consumers as well as serious animal welfare and environmental impacts.

"We are very pleased to advance this exciting collaboration that will bring an innovative product to global markets as PlantForm continues to explore new opportunities in the animal health sector," said  Dr. Don Stewart, PlantForm President and CEO. "We're confident that providing an effective, low-cost vaccine to combat CSF is the first of many promising new inroads for plant-based pharmaceuticals and for our versatile vivoXPRESS^® manufacturing platform."

Under terms of the 10-year agreement, PlantForm will have exclusive rights to import, market, sell and distribute HERBAVAC™ in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. PlantForm will begin the registration process in the U.S. and Canada, followed by the other territories.

About PlantForm Corporation (www.plantformcorp.com)

PlantForm Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the rapid development and production of specialty antibody and protein drugs using the company's proprietary vivoXPRESS^® platform. The plant-based vivoXPRESS^® system makes it easier, faster and less expensive to produce biologic drugs for approved and novel indications. PlantForm has an expanding portfolio of patents in seven families to protect both the core platform technology and products in development.                                                                            

SOURCE PlantForm Corporation

Don Stewart, President and CEO, PlantForm Corp., [email protected], [phone]; Stacey Curry Gunn, Director of Communications, PlantForm Corp., [email protected], [phone]