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VGX Pharmaceuticals Enters In-Licensing
Agreement with Ganial Immunotherapeutics, Inc. for Novel Drug Compound
for Inflammatory Diseases |
Blue Bell, PA – February 22, 2006 –
VGX Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has entered an in-licensing
agreement with Ganial Immunotherapeutics, Inc, an European pharmaceutical
company, for world-wide exclusive rights to test and market VGX-1027 (also
known as GIT027) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid
Arthritis and Psoriasis. VGX-1027 is a novel orally active, small molecule
drug compound.
Inflammatory Diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Psoriasis,
Colitis, and Type I Diabetes represent major medical problems. For instance,
over 2.1 Million and 4.5 Million people suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis
and Psoriasis in the U.S., respectively.
“This is a major development for the treatment of inflammatory diseases
such as rheumatoid arthritis,” says J. Joseph Kim, Ph.D., President
and CEO of VGX Pharmaceuticals. “VGX-1027 is a small molecule compound
that has a broad anti-inflammatory properties. VGX-1027 has shown therapeutic
effects against various inflammatory diseases such as RA, type I diabetes,
psoriasis, and colitis in a pre-clinical animal models. Currently, there
are very few safe, orally available treatment options for these diseases.
VGX-1027 represents a new class of an orally active immune modulator for
these diseases. VGX-1027 has the potential to make a significant impact
for RA and other inflammatory diseases,” said Dr. Kim. An Investigational
New Drug Application (IND) is expected to be filed in late 4Q 2006.
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Factors That May Affect Future Results - Materials in this
Web site contain information that includes or is based upon forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or
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They use words such as "anticipate," "estimate,"
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include statements relating to future actions, prospective products
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forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn
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no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and forward-looking
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Our actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees
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to read the disclosure notice contained in many of the individual
VGX documents available on this Web site as many contain important
information on such cautionary factors as of the date of the individual
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we make on related subjects in our reports. |
About Ganial
Immunotherapeutics
Ganial Immunotherapeutics Inc. (GIT) is a biotechnology company that engages
in the discovery, development, and commercialization of targeted immune
therapy for treating diseases that are characterized by unregulated response
of the immune system such as autoimmune diseases, viral infections and cancer.
About VGX Pharmaceuticals
VGX Pharmaceuticals is a leading biopharmaceutical company with strong product
candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis
C virus (HCV) as well as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company’s
clinical development programs include PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection
and VGX-410C for chronic HCV infection, which are currently in Phase II
clinical trials. In addition, a Phase I clinical trial will be initiated
in 2006 for the Company’s lead cancer drug compound, VGX-150 for the
treatment of Melanoma. Moreover, VGX Pharmaceuticals’ therapeutic
platform is designed to advance a strong and continual pipeline of additional
drug candidates into the clinic with VGX-100 for cancer therapy and VGX-1027
and VGX-750 for inflammatory diseases currently in development. The product
candidates and technology programs are protected by the Company’s
extensive global intellectual property portfolio. More information about
VGX can be found at www.vgxp.com.
For further information, please contact:
GIT Contact:
Dr. Gianni Garotta
Chief Scientific Officer
12 avenue des Morgines, 1213 Petit-Lancy,
Geneva, Switzerland
Direct +41-22-879 11 27
Tel +41-22-879 11 22
Fax +41-22-879 11 24
VGX Contact:
Kevin W. Rassas
Vice President
Tel 267.440.4208
Fax 267.440.4242
E-mail: Rassas@vgxp.com
www.vgxp.com
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