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VGX Pharmaceuticals'
Novel HIV and Pandemic Influenza DNA Vaccine Candidates
Trigger Robust Immune Responses and Protection in Pre-Clinical Models
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| Malaga,
Spain – May 23, 2007 – |
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VGX Pharmaceuticals’ novel pandemic influenza
vaccine candidates triggered protective immune responses in pre-clinical
challenge studies, according to data presented for the first time today
at the Third International Conference on DNA Vaccines in Malaga, Spain.
VGX scientists created four synthetic consensus DNA vaccines to protect
against a lethal Vietnamese H5N1 strain of avian influenza in mice. One
of the vaccines resulted in complete protection of mice from death and
illness of the challenge while 2 others had 60-80% protective effects.
All of the vaccines were delivered using VGX’s proprietary CELLECTRA™
DNA Delivery Device. CELLECTRA™ is a novel adaptive electroporation
device developed by VGX. The avian flu data was presented by Dr. Ruxandra
Draghia-Akli, VGX Vice President, Immune Therapeutics Research.
Separately at the opening plenary session, Professor David B. Weiner of
the University of Pennsylvania, Conference Chairman and a Co-founder of
VGX, presented new data showing extensive T-cell mediated immune responses
to VGX’s HIV vaccine candidates delivered with CELLECTRA™
in non-human primates. Most notably, the monkeys immunized with VGX vaccines
displayed HIV-specific T cell responses as much as 10-20 fold greater
than those reported in the literature using other vaccine modalities.
Induction of high levels of T cell immune responses, especially the CD8+
Killer T cell responses, has long been thought to be important for developing
a successful vaccine for HIV.
VGX plans to conduct further preclinical studies for both the HIV and
Avian Flu vaccines, including the IND-enabling toxicology studies in 2007.
From the conference in Malaga, Spain, Dr. J. Joseph Kim, President and
CEO of VGX, commented, “Our data demonstrates the potential of our
DNA vaccine approaches in addressing these significant global health problems.
We plan to further collaborate with experts and leading organizations
in the field in order to advance our promising clinical programs forward.”
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
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They use words such as "anticipate," "estimate,"
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forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn
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be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently,
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
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
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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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