QUEBEC CITY, April 13 /PRNewswire/ - Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG), a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), announced today that it was named "Best Early-Stage Vaccine Biotechnology Company" at the recently held World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C. Medicago was also a finalist in the "Best Prophylactic Vaccine" category along with Sanofi, GSK, Novartis, Baxter and Dynavax. The Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of vaccine practitioners and stakeholders across the global industry.
"With over 200 companies considered we were proud to be finalists in these two prestigious categories," said Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. "Being chosen as the best emerging vaccine biotechnology company demonstrates that our peers in the vaccine industry recognize the value of our plant-based technology and our ability to rapidly develop highly effective and cost effective vaccines."
In selecting the winner for this category, the distinguished panel of judges evaluated the finalists based on the ability to move the business from early stage to a more mature company, the quality and diversity of the vaccine pipeline and candidates, the advancements in taking a new product to market or through clinical stages, the meaningful licensing or partnership deals and the ability to secure significant new funds for growth. For additional information on the awards program, please visit http://www.terrapinn.com/awards/vaccine-industry-excellence/ .
About World Vaccine Congress
Now in its 11th year, the World Vaccine Congress remains the industry's definitive vaccine industry event for major vaccine players. Officially the longest-running and largest vaccine industry event in North America, the World Vaccine Congress delivers a forum where the ever-changing dynamics of the vaccine industry are discussed and acted upon by the industry's most senior figures.
About Medicago
Medicago is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, developing effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary Virus-Like Particles (VLP) and manufacturing technologies. Medicago is developing VLP vaccines to protect against pandemic and seasonal influenza, using a transient expression system which produces recombinant vaccine antigens in non-transgenic plants. This technology has potential to offer advantages of speed and cost over competitive technologies. It could deliver a vaccine for testing in about a month after the identification and reception of the genetic sequence. This production time frame has the potential to allow vaccination of the population before the first wave of a pandemic strikes and to supply large volumes of vaccine antigens to the world market. Additional information about Medicago is available at www.medicago.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties associated with Medicago's business and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions to the extent they relate to Medicago or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect Medicago's current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the matters discussed under "Risks Factors and Uncertainties" in Medicago's Annual Information Form filed on March 24, 2010 with the regulatory authorities. Medicago assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Medicago Inc.