It seems that the tiny island based company has the only West Nile candidate in clinical trials, at the moment. So it is in an enviable lead position -- and clear and away so -- should there be a West Nile outbreak in 2015 (and perhaps well beyond -- into 2018). [Editorial side-car, here: That he can round-trip his IP virtually at will is emblematic of his demonstrated record of creating powerful vaccines, and his more general scientific prowess -- in the field.
He is usually (experience speaking here) the smartest egg in the room, when it comes to such vaccines. And so, he can reel the pharma majors in and out -- as he is doing in the below interview, toying with the journalist to gently make a point with "the nation's medicine chest".]
You may recall that in April 2013, we reported that Merck had returned much of this same intellectual property to Hawaii BioTech, as Whitehouse Station narrowed its own vaccine R&D focus. It would seem the Merck would now rather "buy" than "make" -- for such vaccines -- waiting for an outbreak, or near outbreak, to wade in, and acquire biologic inventory here.
You may also recall that it is at least partially accurate to suggest that Hawaii BioTech's 2010 Chapter 11 bankruptcy might be explained by over-bearing large bulk vaccine acquiror behaviors. [Merck plainly included, here.]
Thus it makes great sense that the CEO would (now in 2014) be appealing for more brotherly (and sisterly) behavior from the pharma majors -- given his experiences with the earlier dengue vaccine marketing machinations. Here is a bit from an overnight Pacific Business News feed -- do go read it all:
. . . .Hawaii BioTech [scientists]. . . think that the next major outbreak of the West Nile Virus could happen next year, and when and if that happens, the Aiea-based firm will be positioned to help put out this deadly virus, its CEO, Dr. Elliot Parks said. . . .
After the trials are completed, Parks said that the next step is marketing Hawaii Biotech's vaccine to drug companies such as Merck & Co. and Pfizer.
Hawaii Biotech did a similar transaction in 2012, with Merck purchasing its dengue fever vaccine, although Parks said that this time around, his firm would like to form more of a partnership instead of just a straight acquisition. . . .
So we shall wait and see -- but these sorts of medical/biologic wunderkinds don't appear every dang dynasty -- and so they usually get to call the shots, with major pharma, dancing right along, in time. Fox-trot, anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Happy April Fools, now ending. . .
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