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VGX Pharmaceuticals Announces Filing
of IND Application for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection |
BLUE BELL, P.A. – July 21, 2005 –
VGX Pharmaceuticals announced today that the company has filed an Investigative
New Drug application (IND) with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to initiate Phase II clinical trials of VGX-410C for the treatment of
chronic hepatitis C infection (IND #72,963). The company expects to start
Phase II clinical trials for VGX-410C by September of 2005.
VGX-410C is an investigational drug for treatment of chronic hepatitis
C infection. Currently approved drugs are effective only in about 30%
to 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in the United States.
Additionally, those approved drugs are toxic in many patients, resulting
in discontinuation of treatment.
“Filing an IND for VGX-410C is a milestone both for VGX Pharmaceuticals
and for the treatment of HCV infection,” says J. Joseph Kim, Ph.D.,
president and CEO of VGX Pharmaceuticals. “VGX-410C represents the
first drug in a novel class of HCV IRES inhibitors under development.
It is an orally active, small-molecule drug that provides once a day convenience.”
VGX-410C prevents HCV replication by suppressing HCV translation and ultimately
blocking the HCV replication process. As all the genotypes of HCV use
the same pathway, this drug target should be effective for all HCV genotypes.
“VGX-410C could make a significant impact for HCV treatment,”
said Dr. Kim.
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that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the
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Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and
forward-looking statements may be adversely affected by factors, including
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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 product candidates
for the treatment of infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis C as well
as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company’s clinical development
programs include PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection and VGX-410C for chronic
hepatitis C virus infection. In addition, VGX Pharmaceuticals’ therapeutic
platform is designed to advance a strong and continual pipeline of drug
candidates into the clinic with novel product candidates to treat cancer
and inflammatory diseases. 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
Vice President
Tel 267.440.4208
Fax 267.440.4242
E-mail: Rassas@vgxp.com
www.vgxp.com
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