Vical Enters Into Agreement With Japanese Partner for Veterinary Pandemic Influenza Vaccine
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that the company has entered into an evaluation and supply agreement with GenomIdea Inc., a subsidiary of AnGes MG, Inc., for the development of a DNA vaccine for livestock against pandemic influenza. Funding for the project is provided under a grant from "The Okinawa New Industry Creation Research & Development Support Business," supported by the Okinawa Industry Promotion Public Corporation.
Vical will provide the company's H1N1 influenza vaccine know-how, as well as evaluation supplies of the company's Vaxfectin® adjuvant. GenomIdea will manufacture the DNA vaccine and evaluate its efficacy in animals, including swine, with Vical's Vaxfectin® adjuvant. If successful, GenomIdea intends to commercialize the resulting product as a livestock vaccine. Because DNA vaccines can be manufactured within weeks of identifying a viral threat, they could be deployed rapidly to protect livestock against pandemic outbreaks, which in turn should reduce the risk of transmission to humans.
Vical separately is conducting a Phase 1 human clinical trial of its Vaxfectin®-formulated H1N1 vaccine, for which results are expected in the first quarter of 2011.
About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company's DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines and cancer therapeutics internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Risks and uncertainties include whether GenomIdea will receive all, if any, of the Okinawa grant funding; whether the funding will be sufficient to complete the planned evaluation; whether GenomIdea, Vical or others will continue development of any pandemic influenza DNA vaccine candidates; whether the H1N1 DNA vaccine candidate will be effective in inducing protective levels of immunogenicity in livestock against H1N1 strains of influenza; whether future pandemics will occur, and if so, whether DNA vaccines will be successfully applied in livestock against them; whether prevention of pandemic outbreaks in livestock will reduce or prevent transmission to humans; whether the influenza vaccine or any other product candidates will be shown to be safe and effective; the timing, nature and cost of clinical trials; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market any product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will succeed in marketing any product candidates; and additional risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Vical Incorporated
Alan R. Engbring
(858) 646-1127
www.vical.com