SAN DIEGO, July 21, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today the publication in the journal Vaccine1 of successful results from nonclinical testing of its Vaxfectin® adjuvant and Vaxfectin®-formulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines against pandemic influenza prior to their first use in human clinical trials. The results pave the path for potential future human applications of Vaxfectin® as a universal adjuvant for additional pDNA vaccines, for conventional protein-based infectious disease vaccines, and for cancer vaccines.
Vaxfectin® is a lipid-based adjuvant initially developed for use with DNA vaccines. Vaxfectin® has been shown in multiple animal models to significantly increase the antibody and T-cell immune responses to antigens expressed from DNA vaccines. Vaxfectin® has achieved similar effects with protein-based vaccines for infectious diseases and with tumor-associated antigen peptides for cancer applications. Phase 1 clinical trials of Vaxfectin®-formulated H5N1 and H1N1 pandemic influenza DNA vaccines extended the immunogenicity results to humans, and demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability. The current publication reviews the nonclinical results that supported the advancement of the Vaxfectin®-formulated DNA pandemic influenza vaccines into clinical development.
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, including: whether Vaxfectin® will be used as a universal adjuvant for pDNA or protein vaccines, or any other applications; whether Vical or others will pursue development of any Vaxfectin®-formulated product candidates; whether any Vaxfectin®-formulated product candidates will be safe and tolerable, or effective; whether any product candidates will be shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials; 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.
1 Doukas J, et al. Nonclinical biodistribution, integration, and toxicology evaluations of an H5N1 pandemic influenza plasmid DNA vaccine formulated with Vaxfectin®. Vaccine 29 (2011) 5443-5452; doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.05.060.