BOSTON, Aug. 17, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today that the company will present a summary of data highlighting the broad potential applications for the company's Vaxfectin® adjuvant at the Third Annual Novel Vaccines: Adjuvants & Delivery Systems Conference, (Boston – August 16-18).
John Doukas, Ph.D., Vical's Senior Director of Pre-clinical Safety and Efficacy, is scheduled to present at 4:45 p.m. EDT today, August 17. Dr. Doukas' presentation, "Vaxfectin®: A Versatile Adjuvant for Plasmid DNA- and Protein-Based Vaccines," summarizes results of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the company's Vaxfectin® adjuvant supporting potential use with vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases and cancer.
Vaxfectin® is a synthetic lipid-based adjuvant initially developed for use with plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines. Vaxfectin® has been shown in multiple animal models to significantly increase the antibody and T-cell immune responses to antigens expressed from pDNA 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 pDNA vaccines extended the immunogenicity results to humans, and demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability.
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 an adjuvant for pDNA- or protein-based vaccines, cancer 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.