Shares of Anges surged as much as 17% in morning trade in Tokyo,
compared with a 5.3% gain in the broader market.
Anges, a drug-discovery company launched out of Osaka
University, announced its collaboration with the school on a
coronavirus vaccine on March 5. DNA vaccines are produced using
an inactivated virus and can manufactured faster than protein
based vaccines, according to the company statement.
Takara Bio Co is in charge of production of the vaccine and
Daicel Corp's gene-transfer technology is also being utilized,
the statement said.
Global pharma companies are racing to develop vaccines and
treatments for coronavirus, which has reached 350,000 cases
globally and resulted in over 15,000 deaths.
In Japan, market leader Takeda Pharmaceutical Co is working on a
plasma-derived therapy, while the active ingredient in Fujifilm
Holdings Corp's Avigan anti-flu drug is being tested as a
treatment in China. [nL4N2BG4MK]
(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim and Rocky Swift; Editing by Kim
Coghill)
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