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Bell, PA – May 5, 2008 – |
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VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VGX) announced today that
the Company will make multiple presentations regarding its SynCon™
pandemic flu DNA vaccine (VGX-3400) and CELLECTRA® DNA
Delivery device at the 11th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research. The
Conference is sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
(NFID) and will take place May 5-7, 2008 at Baltimore's Marriott Waterfront
Hotel.
Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, VGX’s Vice President of Research, will
deliver an oral presentation entitled “Improved immune responses
following intradermal (ID) vaccination of a consensus influenza DNA vaccine
using electroporation (EP) in non-human primates.” This presentation
highlights VGX’s comprehensive development of novel methodologies
for a universal influenza DNA vaccine using the Company’s CELLECTRA®
constant current electroporation device. The presentation reports on the
novel ID delivery of VGX-3400 in rhesus monkeys, which generated significant
antibody-based and T cell-based immune responses. VGX-3400 is the Company’s
rationally constructed SynCon™ pandemic flu DNA vaccine. These findings
demonstrate that the delivery of influenza antigens using ID+EP could
be an important vaccination strategy and could have advantages over current
influenza vaccine approaches.
A second poster presentation will present study data showing that ferrets
vaccinated with VGX-3400 were fully protected from illness and subsequent
death in a challenge using an unmatched Vietnamese strain of avian flu
virus. During the experiments, 100% of the ferrets treated with VGX-3400
survived, while 100% of the control animals died. Ferrets represent the
most relevant pre-clinical influenza animal model for humans, and data
from previous challenges demonstrate that VGX-3400 also protects mice
from the unmatched Vietnamese strain of avian flu virus. All vaccines
used were delivered with VGX’s patented CELLECTRA® DNA delivery
device. The results of both animal challenges should strongly support
an Investigative New Drug (IND) application for VGX-3400, which the Company
expects to file by June 2008.
VGX Pharmaceuticals’ SynCon™ DNA vaccine antigens are designed
by aligning numerous primary sequences and choosing the most common amino
acid or base pair at each site by using proprietary bioinformatics approaches.
The SynCon™ DNA vaccines in combination with the CELLECTRA®
delivery device provide greater levels of cross-reactive immune responses
than those produced by more traditional vaccines.
Cautionary
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
forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the
fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.
They use words such as "anticipate," "estimate,"
"expect," "project," "intend," "plan,"
"believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning
in connection with a discussion of potential future events, circumstances
or future operating or financial performance. In particular, these
include statements relating to future actions, prospective products
or product approvals, future performance or results of current and
anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies
such as legal proceedings, and financial results. Any or all of our
forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn
out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or
by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will
be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently,
no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and forward-looking
statements may be adversely affected by factors, including general
market conditions, competitive product development, product availability,
current and future branded and generic competition, federal and state
regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues, timing of the elimination
of trade buying, patent positions, litigations and investigations.
Our actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees
about the performance or valuation of VGX stock. It is also important
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
document. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures
we make on related subjects in our reports. |
About VGX
Pharmaceuticals
VGX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company with small molecule
and biologic product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases,
cancer, and inflammatory diseases. The Company's clinical development
programs include PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection, which is in Phase
II clinical trials, PENNVAX™-B for HIV infection, which is in 2
separate Phase I clinical trials, and VGX-1027 for inflammatory diseases,
which is in Phase I clinical trials. In addition, The Company has filed
an IND for VGX-3200, a novel DNA therapy that utilizes GHRH for the treatment
of cancer cachexia and anemia. VGX has established a vertically-integrated
DNA Vaccines and Therapies Platform with extensive capabilities including
SynCon™ DNA-based product candidates, the patented CELLECTRA®
delivery device, and efficient cGMP plasmid manufacturing facilities.
The cGMP facilities are used for VGX’s own product supplies and
for contract manufacturing. Vertical control over key aspects of product
development has enabled the Company to consistently develop multiple product
candidates, from bench-to-IND filing, within 1 year. 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.
Company Contact:
Kevin W. Rassas
Senior Vice President
Tel. 267.440.4208
Fax 267.440.4242
E-mail: Rassas@vgxp.com
www.vgxp.com
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