Vical Advances H1N1 Pandemic Influenza (Swine Flu) Vaccine
SAN DIEGO, May 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (NasdaqGM:VICL - News) announced today that in the two weeks since launching its program to develop a vaccine against H1N1 influenza (swine flu), the company has completed development of a prototype H1 vaccine, produced an initial supply of research-grade material, and initiated immunogenicity testing in animals. Assuming a successful outcome of this testing and a commitment for program-specific external funding, the company is ready to advance directly to large-scale cGMP manufacturing of vaccine for human clinical trials to be conducted by the U.S. Navy.
The company previously announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), a biomedical research organization within the U.S. Navy, to advance into clinical testing as quickly as possible a Vaxfectin(r)-formulated H1 DNA vaccine. Vical and the NMRC are actively pursuing funding to support the program.
``The ongoing H1N1 influenza outbreaks remain a focal point of international discussions regarding the need for and feasibility of producing an H1 vaccine,'' said Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer. ``We have already demonstrated the speed of our technology by producing an H1 vaccine and initiating animal testing while others are still assessing the situation. Vical is uniquely positioned to quickly produce an H1 influenza vaccine, building on our successful completion last year of Phase 1 human trials of our H5 influenza vaccine. Our biggest remaining hurdles are not technological, but financial. We are eager to secure the required financial resources as soon as possible to allow continued development in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, and to make vaccine supplies available before they are needed.''
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 vical.com. |
