Acuvax, RESprotect deal

Holding company Acuvax sold its 10% stake in cancer company RESprotect to an undisclosed European firm for an undisclosed sum. Acuvax said the deal would improve its cash position by over $750,000. RESprotect's pipeline includes RP101, a nucleoside analog that inhibits induced chemoresistance and enhances chemosensitivity in Phase IIb testing for pancreatic cancer; and a portfolio of preclinical chemoresistance inhibitors.

Acuvax said that RESprotect was a non-core asset, and the deal will allow it to focus on disease prevention, including a vaccine for West Nile virus in Phase I testing. The vaccine is being developed by Hawaii Biotech Inc. (Aiea, Hawaii), in which Acuvax holds 27.2%. ...