SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2003-- Corixa Corp. (Nasdaq:CRXA - News), a leading provider of immunotherapeutics, today provided an update on two late stage potential products containing Corixa's MPL® adjuvant featured during GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) recent Research & Development Meeting with investors. Under current license agreements, GSK incorporates Corixa's MPL adjuvant in several of its vaccines in development, including Cervarix vaccine for the prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and Simplirix vaccine for the prevention of genital herpes. In a presentation to its investors in London on December 3, 2003, GSK highlighted a variety of programs, including Cervarix and Simplirix containing Corixa's MPL adjuvant, as promising and novel treatments with considerable commercial potential.
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Simplirix: Highly Effective in Protecting Women Against HSV-1 and HSV-2 Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV -- HSV-1 and HSV-2 -- and both can cause genital herpes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45 million people in the United States ages 12 and older, or 1 out of 5 of the total adolescent and adult population, are infected with HSV-2. Nationwide, since the late 1970s, the number of people with genital herpes infection has increased 30 percent.
Thirteen clinical trials with more than 12,000 volunteers have been completed evaluating Simplirix vaccine containing Corixa's MPL adjuvant. Results from two double-blind, randomized trials demonstrated that Simplirix vaccine was highly effective in protecting women against HSV-1 and HSV-2 genital herpes. GSK is currently conducting another Phase III pivotal trial in young adult women in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health.
Cervarix: The First Vaccine With the Potential for 100 Percent Efficacy Against Two Types of Human Papillomavirus
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide. In Phase II studies, Cervarix vaccine containing Corixa's MPL adjuvant demonstrated 100 percent effectiveness in preventing persistent infection by the two HPVs associated with the greatest incidence of cervical cancer: HPV 16 and HPV 18. GSK went on to report that Cervarix has the potential to prevent more than 70 percent of cervical cancers. Two planned Phase III trials enrolling approximately 25,000 women are expected to begin in 2004.
"We are pleased to report progress toward the commercialization of our adjuvants in multiple indications," said Steven Gillis, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Corixa. "Our flagship adjuvant, MPL, continues to demonstrate a high degree of utility in combination with multiple vaccines now in late stages of development. We expect further progress toward commercialization in the coming year and look forward to the continued growth of our adjuvant business and its potential contribution to Corixa's future product sales and royalty income." |
