Small biotech has CETP vaccine in progress for reversal of atherosclerosis. Avant Imunnotherapuetics Inc. AVAN.Have studied
CETP and developed this vaccine in progress:
NEW RESEARCH ILLUSTRATES ROLE OF CETP IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS; SUPPORTS CONCEPT OF
AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS' ATHEROSCLEROSIS VACCINE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1999 4:30 PM
- PRNewswire
NEEDHAM, Mass., Nov 29, 1999 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New research demonstrates that the cholesteryl ester transfer
protein (CETP) can promote atherosclerosis, thus supporting the novel vaccine approach to preventing or treating that disease
now under development by AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAN). A study published in the December issue of
Nature Medicine by researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and AVANT describes the creation of a transgenic
rat model that carries the human gene for CETP in a rat strain that develops high blood pressure. As they aged, such rats
developed severely high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, atherosclerotic lesions, myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and
had decreased survival, thus closely mimicking human atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
"This research strongly suggests that elevated CETP may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in humans. It also
substantiates a mechanism for the known epidemiological link between increased risk of coronary heart disease and increasing
severity of hypertension," said Victoria L. M. Herrera of Boston University School of Medicine, lead author of the publication.
"We believe this transgenic rat line will prove a useful predictive model for research in cardiovascular disease."
The normal role of CETP in the body is to shuttle cholesterol from high density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol) to low
density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol), thus controlling in part the relative levels of those two substances. High levels of
LDL and low levels of HDL are known to contribute to atherosclerosis. AVANT's investigational vaccine is designed to raise
serum HDL cholesterol levels by inducing antibodies against a critical portion of the CETP molecule, thus blocking its
cholesterol shuttling activity and inducing a plasma lipoprotein profile consistent with a lower risk of atherosclerosis (high HDL
and low LDL).
"AVANT has long believed that CETP contributes to the development of atherosclerosis in humans. This latest research
strengthens the story about the role this molecule plays in the development of the disease and confirms that our vaccine, which
may prevent or treat atherosclerosis, is aimed at the right target," said Una Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
of AVANT Immunotherapeutics.
In preliminary studies of AVANT's CETP vaccine, treated rabbits exhibited an increase in the level of HDL and significantly fewer
atherosclerotic lesions in their blood vessels compared to untreated rabbits, which showed no increase in HDL levels and
developed significant blood vessel lesions. In June of 1999, AVANT announced it received approval to begin enrollment in its
double-blind, ascending-dose Phase I clinical trial of this investigational vaccine, called CETi-1. That study is now ongoing at
the Chicago Center for Clinical Research (CCCR).
Atherosclerosis, which can manifest itself as a heart attack, stroke or peripheral vascular disease, is one of the leading cases
of morbidity and mortality in the United States and most of the Western World.
The study described in this article published in Nature Medicine was supported in part by an SBIR Grant from the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of products that harness
the human immune response to prevent and treat disease. The Company's lead therapeutic program is focused on compounds
that inhibit the inappropriate activity of the complement cascade, which is a vital part of the body's immune defense system.
The Company is also engaged in the development of Therapore(TM), a novel system for the delivery of immunotherapeutics for
chronic viral infections and certain cancers. The Company and its collaborators are developing vaccines using its proprietary
adjuvants, Adjumer(R) and Micromer(TM). In a further collaboration, the Company is developing an oral human rotavirus vaccine,
and is developing its own proprietary vaccine for the management of atherosclerosis.
Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., can be obtained through the Company's site on the World Wide
Web: avantimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking
statements which reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking
statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1)
the ability to successfully complete development and commercialization of products, including the cost, scope and results of
preclinical and clinical testing; (2) the ability to successfully complete product research and further development, including
animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies; (3) changes in existing and potential relationships with corporate collaborators; (4) the
time, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; (5) the ability to obtain substantial additional funding; (6) the ability
to develop and commercialize products before competitors; and (7) other factors detailed from time to time in filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
(C) 1999 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
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CONTACT: Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and CEO, or Paula R. Freeman,
Investor Relations, of AVANT, 781-433-0771, info@avantimmune.com, or AVANT
Media: Joan Kureczka of J. Kureczka Associates, 415-821-2413,
jkureczka@aol.com, or Gina Di Gravio of B.U. School of Medicine, 617-638-8491
WEB PAGE: avantimmune.com
GEOGRAPHY: Massachusetts
INDUSTRY CODE: MTC
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