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| VGX
Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of Preclinical Animal Efficacy
Studies for VGX-150 in Molecular Therapy
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Bell, PA – September 11, 2006 – |
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VGX Pharmaceuticals announced today the publication
of preclinical animal efficacy studies for VGX-150, the company’s
lead product candidate for the treatment of melanoma. A manuscript entitled,
“Complete Regression of Established Subcutaneous B16 Murine Melanoma
Tumors after Delivery of an HIV-1 Vpr-Expressing Plasmid by in Vivo Electroporation,”
was published in the online edition of Molecular Therapy, a leading journal
of the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT).
The project was headed by Professors Kenneth E. Ugen and Richard Heller
of the University of South Florida. The co-authors of the paper included
VGX Co-founders, Dr. J. Joseph Kim and Professor David B. Weiner. The
paper is now available online and should be available in the print edition
in November.
This is the first report demonstrating the efficacy of VGX-150 delivered
as a DNA plasmid with in vivo electroporation. The study findings indicated
that treatment with VGX-150 resulted in complete tumor regression with
long-term survival in a significant percentage of the mice in a highly
aggressive and metastatic solid tumor model.
Soon to be a part of the prestigious Nature Publishing Group in January
of 2007, Molecular Therapy presents important, peer-reviewed studies on
key issues in gene transfer, gene and cell therapies, experimental models
for correction of genetic and acquired disease and clinical trials. Molecular
Therapy has become recognized as one of the most prestigious journals
in the field, and is ranked in three ISI (Institute for Scientific Information)
categories with a high impact factor.
“There continues to be a significant need for novel therapies and
delivery methods directed against malignancies such as melanoma, and particularly
metastatic melanoma. We believe VGX-150 can play an important role in
the treatment of Melanoma, and we are pleased with the development progress
of this important compound to date,” said J. Joseph Kim, PhD., President
and Chief Executive Officer of VGX Pharmaceuticals.
Manufacturing programs for VGX-150 under current Good Manufacturing Practices
(cGMP) guidelines and the Investigational New Drug Application (IND) enabling
animal toxicology testing have been initiated. An IND for VGX-150 is expected
to be filed in early 2007 to support the initiation of Phase 1 clinical
trials during the first quarter of 2007.
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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 leading biopharmaceutical company with strong product
candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis
C virus (HCV) as well as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company’s
clinical development programs include PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection
and VGX-410C for chronic HCV infection, which are currently in Phase II
clinical trials. In addition, a Phase I clinical trial will be initiated
in 2007 for the Company’s lead cancer drug compound, VGX-150 for the
treatment of Melanoma. Moreover, VGX Pharmaceuticals’ therapeutic
platform is designed to advance a strong and continual pipeline of additional
drug candidates into the clinic with VGX-100 for cancer therapy and VGX-1027
and VGX-750 for inflammatory diseases currently in development. 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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