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VGX Pharmaceuticals
Co-Founder Professor David B. Weiner
to Chair International Scientific Congress
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Bell, PA – May 21, 2007 – |
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VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VGX) announced today that
Professor David B. Weiner of the University of Pennsylvania will serve
as Conference Chairman of the Third International Conference on DNA Vaccines
this week in Malaga, Spain. Professor Weiner is a pioneer in the field
of DNA vaccines and a VGX co-founder.
The three-day conference, which begins May 23, will focus on the development
of DNA and genetic immunization and will include international delegates
from biotechnology companies, major pharmaceutical companies, academic
institutions, and government labs. Over the last two decades, DNA vaccines
have become a potent means of providing immune responses or protective
immunity against viruses, bacteria and parasites in many species from
fish to primates, including humans. DNA vaccines, comprising plasmid DNA
encoding proteins from pathogens, allergens, and tumors, are being evaluated
as prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic treatments for infectious diseases,
allergies and cancer. The use of DNA as a means of vaccination offers
potential benefits in protective efficacy, cross-strain applicability,
development speed and manufacturing cost compared with conventional vaccines.
DNA vaccines are known to be particularly effective in inducing killer
T-cell responses which are an important ingredient in fighting infections.
VGX Pharmaceuticals is developing a new generation of DNA vaccines which
utilize synthetic consensus sequences and antigens for key HIV, HCV, HPV,
and Influenza proteins that offer coverage across different viral sub-types
or taxonomic groups. Pre-clinical studies have shown that immunization
of mice and non-human primates using the consensus DNA constructs for
each virus elicits an immune response against multiple sub-types of the
HIV, HCV, HPV, or Influenza viruses respectively. VGX is also developing
its proprietary CELLECTRA™ DNA Delivery Device as a novel adaptive
electroporation device to deliver its DNA vaccine candidates.
Dr. Weiner will deliver the Opening Plenary presentation entitled "DNA
vaccines: Where are we now? – An overview on progress and significant
developments,” at 9:00 a.m. on May 23.
Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, VGX Vice President, Immune Therapeutics Research,
will serve as a Session Moderator for the Electroporation Session and
will deliver a presentation entitled, “Enhanced immune responses
to DNA vaccines via electroporation.” Dr. C. Jo White, VGX Chief
Medical Officer, will also serve as a Session Moderator for the HIV Development
Session.
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 molecules
and biologics product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases,
cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company’s clinical development
programs include PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection and VGX-410C for chronic
HCV infection, both of which are currently in Phase II clinical trials.
In addition, Phase I clinical trials will be initiated in 2007 for VGX-150
for the treatment of Melanoma and VGX-1027 for inflammatory diseases. VGX’s
research pipelines include new generation of DNA vaccines and therapeutics
as well as CELLECTRA™, a proprietary DNA delivery device. 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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