TORONTO, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vical Incorporated today announced that data from a study in mice showed an adjuvant originally developed to boost the immune response to its DNA vaccines also boosts the immune response to a conventional seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine. Results from the studies suggest that the company's patented vaccine adjuvant known as Vaxfectin(TM) has the potential to be used as a dose-sparing agent with conventional flu vaccines against seasonal or pandemic flu strains. The company is developing a Vaxfectin(TM)-formulated DNA vaccine designed to protect against emerging strains of flu virus that have the potential to cause a pandemic. Larry R. Smith, Ph.D., the company's Vice President of Vaccine Research, presented the data Saturday at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Toronto, October 12 - 15).
Mice were vaccinated with Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (Sanofi-Pasteur Fluzone(R) 2005-2006 Formula commercial product), with or without the Vaxfectin(TM) adjuvant, and evaluated for immunogenicity through hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, the accepted standard correlate of protection for conventional flu vaccines. Vaxfectin(TM)-formulated vaccines yielded significantly higher HI titers than unformulated vaccines at the same dose.
Vaxfectin(TM) is a novel adjuvant designed by Vical to increase the immune response in DNA vaccines, and Vaxfectin(TM) formulations have demonstrated good tolerability and adjuvant activity in DNA vaccine applications in multiple animal models, including non-human primates. The company holds patents in the United States covering both the novel Vaxfectin(TM) adjuvant and its use with conventional vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer, and in both the United States and Europe covering the use of Vaxfectin(TM) with DNA vaccines. Vical's lead Vaxfectin(TM)-formulated, three-component DNA vaccine candidate against avian flu provided 100% protection in mice and ferrets against lethal challenges with a highly virulent H5N1 virus, and is advancing toward human testing.
About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company's DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines and cancer therapeutics internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at http://www.vical.com/.
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including: whether Vical or others will continue evaluation of Vaxfectin(TM) as an adjuvant for conventional vaccines against seasonal or pandemic flu; whether Vaxfectin(TM) will be used as a dose-sparing agent with conventional flu vaccines against seasonal or pandemic flu strains; whether Vical or others will continue development of the pandemic flu DNA vaccine candidate; whether H5N1 or other strains of avian influenza will emerge as pandemic threats; whether the company's DNA vaccine candidate will be effective in protecting humans against H5N1 or other strains of avian flu; whether the flu vaccine or any other product candidates will be shown to be safe and effective; the timing, nature and cost of clinical trials; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market the flu vaccine or any other product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will succeed in marketing the flu vaccine or any other product candidates; and additional risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contacts: Investors: Media:
Alan R. Engbring Susan Neath
Vical Incorporated Porter Novelli Life Sciences
(858) 646-1127 (619) 849-6007
Website: http://www.vical.com/
