Medicago, Genopole expand collaboration

Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG), a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced an extension to its partnering agreement of July 2009 with Genopole®. Medicago and Genopole® will also work towards the creation a laboratory for research on vaccine and antibody targets of interest for France in terms of public health and biodefense. This laboratory is planned to involve French academic research institutes and will be located at the Genopole® biopark in Evry, France. This extension was executed today at the 2010 Symposium Franco-Québécois in the presence of Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec and Christine Lagarde, French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry.

On July 21, 2009, Medicago and Genopole® signed a partnering agreement to collaborate on the establishment of a commercial-scale facility based on Medicago's Proficia™ plant-based manufacturing technology and VLP vaccine technology on Genopole®'s site in Evry, France. Following Medicago's successful completion of its Phase I clinical trial, Genopole® and Medicago met with French authorities to identify specific interests and needs for research and development of new vaccines and antibodies of high priority and concluded that the proposed implementation of such a laboratory for joint research on vaccine and antibody targets was a step towards the establishment of a commercial-scale facility.

"Medicago is very pleased to expand its long-standing relationship with Genopole," said Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. "Medicago is committed to using innovative manufacturing approaches to develop better vaccines that can be produced very rapidly and cost-effectively. This laboratory could be a significant asset to further validate the broad application potential of our proprietary Virus-Like Particles and plant-based production/extraction technologies."

"We are glad to continue our collaboration with Medicago. Their innovative Virus-Like Particle and non-transgenic plant-based manufacturing technologies show great promise for the development of vaccines" said Pierre Tambourin, Director of Genopole®. "This expanded collaboration will support our biopark's leadership in innovation and bioproduction by offering unique research and manufacturing capabilities to France and Europe."

SOURCE Medicago Inc.