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Biotech / Medical : BJCT-BIOJECT-needle less injection product -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: geewiz who wrote (449)	2/25/2000 6:35:00 PM
From: GREG FINLEY	Respond to of 534

Dear Bioject Longs, I seem to be getting a lot of flack on the Yahoo bulletin board because the pending news announcements aren't coming as quickly as many would like. Has anyone who reads here heard anything that could be disseminated without sacrificing a confidence? How does this stock look technically right now? Could you elaborate? I would appreciate any input. Always, Greg

To: geewiz who wrote (449)	4/5/2000 12:08:00 PM
From: geewiz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 534

Vical Discloses Preclinical Data On Naked DNA Vaccine for Prostate Cancer SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--April 4, 2000--Vical Inc. (Nasdaq:VICL) today released positive results from preclinical testing of a novel prostate cancer vaccine using the company's patented naked DNA gene delivery technology. Naked DNA technology has been used widely in the development of vaccines against infectious diseases, and potential naked DNA vaccines against influenza, malaria and HIV have been tested in man. In the current research Vical scientists used the naked DNA technology to deliver a prostate cancer antigen (a protein that alerts the immune system to a foreign cell)and trigger an immune response against implanted prostate cancer cells in mice. "This new application of our patented technology suggests a product development opportunity to address the significant unmet medical need in prostate cancer," said Deirdre Y. Gillespie, M.D., executive vice president and chief business officer of Vical. "The potential to combine a DNA cancer vaccine with other gene-based immunotherapies could lead to more effective and better tolerated treatment regimens." Dr. Gillespie disclosed the new research data during a presentation to investors. Vical scientists developed an experimental naked DNA vaccine to cause production of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). The PSMA programmed the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells. Growth of implanted prostate cancer cells was significantly reduced in the vaccinated mice compared with a control group treated with a placebo DNA vaccine without the PSMA gene. "We used the PSMA gene in this initial vaccine research study, but may substitute or add genes for other prostate-specific antigens before committing to clinical development," Dr. Gillespie noted. "We are exploring vaccines as part of a broader program exploring immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of prostate cancer, and may find a combination to be better than any single agent." In previous studies, the scientists demonstrated the delivery in mice of cytokines (proteins that modify immune responses) by naked DNA gene transfer to provide systemic effects on implanted prostate cancer tumors. Naked DNA delivery of both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon alpha was shown to reduce tumor growth and improve survival.In addition,Vical is currently conducting Phase II clinical trials in patients with prostate cancer using Leuvectin, a gene-based immunotherapy that delivers IL-2 locally. Results from earlier trials were encouraging, showing sustained, significant reductions in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an indicator of prostate cancer growth. The active ingredient in Leuvectin is a gene encoding IL-2, a naturally occurring protein that stimulates the immune system. Administration occurs by direct injection into a tumor, leading to uptake by the tumor cells and subsequent expression of the IL-2 protein. The Company believes local expression of IL-2 by cancer cells may stimulate the patient's immune system to attack and destroy the tumor cells. Background -- Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer fatalities, among men in the United States. African Americans are at significantly greater risk than Caucasians, and men over age 65 account for more than 80 percent of all diagnoses. Nearly 180,400 new cases and 31,900 deaths from prostate cancer are expected in 2000 in the United States. There is no curative therapy for prostate cancer once it has escaped from the prostate capsule. While surgical therapy offers excellent chances for cure if the disease is pathologically confined to the gland, up to 40 percent of patients who are considered candidates for radical prostatectomy will have adverse prognostic factors for disease recurrence after surgery. Radiotherapy has had varying rates of success when used in the adjuvant setting, and hormone deprivation therapy cannot preoperatively downstage a prostate cancer to improve rates of organ-confined disease. Once prostate cancer has spread, androgen deprivation therapy is very effective in controlling symptoms from metastasis, and for slowing the rate of disease growth. However, this treatment is not curative, and the majority of patients eventually develop hormone-refractory disease. Due to the slow rate of prostate cancer cell reproduction, the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy is ineffective since such treatment relies on the selective killing of actively and rapidly proliferating cells. The treatment options available to patients who failed radiation therapy for prostate cancer are limited. While cryotherapy and salvage prostatectomy offer potential cures for selected patients who have biopsy-proven local failure following radiation treatment, the salvage treatments have been associated with low cure rates and high complication rates. For most patients who have rising PSA levels following radiation treatment, the only option is anti-androgen treatment to slow the rate of cancer growth and to palliate symptoms. Vical Inc., The Naked DNA Company(TM), is focused on the development of pharmaceutical product candidates based on its patented gene delivery technology. A number of therapeutic and vaccine product candidates are currently under development for the prevention or treatment of cancer, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders by Vical and its collaborative partners, including Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc., Aventis Pasteur, Aventis Pharma, Centocor Inc., Human Genome Sciences, Merial and Boston Scientific Corp. This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including whether any product candidates will be shown to be safe and efficacious in clinical trials, the timing of clinical trials, whether Vical will seek or gain approval to market any product candidates, and additional risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. 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. For news releases and other information about the company, visit the Vical Web site at www.vical.com.