|
|
|
VGX Gene Therapy Technology
Featured at the 90th Annual Endocrine Society Meeting
|
| Blue
Bell, PA – June 17, 2008 – |
|
VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VGX) and its affiliate,
VGX Animal Health Inc. (VGXAH), announced today that the Company’s
gene therapy technology for dogs with cancer was presented at the Endocrine
Society’s 90th Annual Meeting. The Meeting takes place June 15-18,
2008 in San Francisco, CA. The abstract of this technology was selected
for a special media presentation highlighting “Frontier Research
and Exciting Results” as part of a live webcast on June 16.
Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, the Company’s Vice
President of Research, addressed the media and presented the summary research
findings in a presentation titled “Companion Dogs: Helping our Helpers”.
The archived webcast can be viewed at http://www.webcastcanada.ca/endo/june16-2.php
The subject technology utilizes a non-viral DNA molecule
encoding for growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) as a potential therapy
for cancer cachexia, also known as wasting syndrome. VGX researchers tested
the gene therapy in 55 companion dogs that had cancer and anemia and were
receiving cancer treatment. Three months after the injection, 54 percent
of the dogs had responded to the therapy as revealed by blood tests. Dogs
that responded to the therapy survived 84 percent longer, compared with
dogs that did not respond to it and untreated control dogs that received
a placebo injection.
The study has implications for treating cachexia associated
with human cancers because dogs with spontaneous malignancies serve as
good models for human disease. VGX Pharmaceuticals is awaiting approval
from the Food and Drug Administration to study the GHRH treatment (VGX-3200)
in humans. VGX Animal Health also plans to develop the GHRH technology
for companion animals including dogs and cats, and already has a product
approved for pigs in Australia (LifeTide™ SW 5).
Further information on the research can be found in
the Endocrine Society’s news release at http://www.endo-society.org/media/ENDO-08/news/Gene-therapy-improves-survival.cfm
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
INDs for VGX-3100, a DNA therapeutic vaccine for cervical cancer; VGX-3200,
a novel DNA therapy that utilizes GHRH for the treatment of cancer cachexia
and anemia; and VGX-3400, a DNA preventative vaccine for avian influenza.
VGX has established a vertically-integrated DNA Vaccines and Therapies
Platform with extensive capabilities including SynCon™ DNA-based
product candidates, the CELLECTRA® delivery device, and
efficient cGMP plasmid 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.
About VGX Animal Health
VGX Animal Health, Inc. was formed in 2007 as a majority-owned subsidiary
of VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VGXP) specializing in animal health therapeutics.
VGXAH’s products and technology were initially developed by ADViSYS
Inc, which was founded in 1997 and acquired by VGX Pharmaceuticals in
early 2007. VGXAH’s lead product, LifeTide™ SW 5, was approved
in Australia in January 2008. The product is an injectable plasmid encoding
for porcine Growth Hormone Release Hormone (“GHRH”). In addition,
the Company has conducted extensive pre-clinical trials for other applications
of its proprietary plasmid-based GHRH therapy in both food and companion
animals. Treatment of cancer cachexia, anemia, and improved milk production
are just a few of the many potential applications of this technology in
animal health. VGXAH’s product candidates and technology programs
are protected by the Company's extensive global intellectual property
portfolio. More information about VGXAH can be found at www.vgxah.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
|
