From IDB Stockhouse thread.
Sir_Holler (ID#:
71076)
AIDS Vaccine, Strep Vaccine...
and a future..
3/10/00 11:03:00
AM
1084606
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What really has the market's eye on IDB is a potentially government mandated
vaccine worth CDN$2.25 billion, per year-- a potential blockbuster, and
monopoly! It's for strep throat, the flesh eating disease, rhumatic fever, and scarlet
fever. I hear the analysts absolutely love it, and are soon going to tell this story, to
a very attentive biotech market.
But look what else they have, soon to be in trials...an AIDS vaccine...
The AIDS vaccine should be approved for, or re-enter, expanded phase I/II,
human trials, on 100 people in the first half of 2000. This could garner significant
publicity for ID Biomedical, due to AID'S high profile. This vaccine has also been
partially backed by the NIH, and may be able to garner further funding. It is
specifically designed to deal with the tremendous strain variability of the virus
which is believed largely responsible for creating the significant problems of those
trying to create an effective vaccine. Using rational vaccine design, it can be
specifically programmed for use in different geographic areas. Moreover, since
this vaccine is being developed to work as a therapeutic, and not as a prophylactic,
it can potentially be used in combination with other drug therapies. As a therapy,
in comparison to drugs, it may only require one innoculation every two months,
for instance, on an on going basis, instead of taking a pill(s) every day. It may also
prove significantly cheaper than medications. Its' potential use as a prophylactic,
or preventative, is also being investigated. Clinical trials are anticipated to take
place at NIH affiliated sites, outside the U.S.. In previous small-scale human trials
the vaccine was shown to be safe and did produce both antibody and cellular
immune responses, according to results published by the vaccines inventor. The
inventor is Dr. Ayre Rubinstein. He is Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology at
Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Rubenstein is also a director of one of the
NIH sponsored Centers for AIDS Research in the U.S.. His research has been
given distinction, and awarded, by the US Secretary of Health. Biomira is currently
able to manufacture this vaccine to the required trial standards. Currently IDB
only has a Memorandum of Agreement on this vaccine. It intends to replace this
agreement with a definitive liscencing and collaboration agreement in the very
near future. In the words of this vaccine's inventor in Dec of 1997, "initial human
tests on a small scale in Isreal, achieved better reduction in viral load - the
measure of virus in the bloodstream - than any other HIV vaccine currently in
development." Only expensive combinatorial drug therapies, were able to achieve
what it could. Now ID Biomedical is preparing to take it to the next level. There
are however many groups competing to be the first with an AIDS vaccine. There
are believed to be 70 AIDS vaccines in development. One has even entered phase
three trials. IDB's therapeutic vaccine may have very limited use if there is a
preventative vaccine discovered, however PROGRESS ACHIEVING SUCH A
GOAL HAS BEEN VERY DISCOURAGING. There are no other therapeutic
AIDS vaccines in human trials. Given the nature of this disease, this vaccine could
meet with an accelerated approval process on compassionate grounds.
1)There is a serious problem, in science, with regards to creating a preventative
AIDS vaccine. An effective preventative vaccine probably won't be available for a
long time to come.
2) This makes the need for other treatments, like a therapeutic vaccine, potentially,
necessary.
3) IDB's therapeutic AIDS vaccine copes with one of the central problems in
creating an AIDS vaccine-- strain variability. It can be rationally programmed to
the specific needs of different areas.
4) The prototype has proven safe, even at the human level, and has produced a
significant immune response, in small-scale testing. Only expensive combinatorial
drug regimines have achieved similar results.
5) A therapeutic vaccine could provide cost, and convenience to the patient.
The market for one AIDS drug right now, is about US$1 billion, per year.
There is still a lot to this opportunity, and that may be what keeps on giving this
company attention, for years to come.
Here's a report, the last few news releases should bring you right up to date.
geocities.com
Be Wise,
Sir_Holler |
