Vical Announces Presentation of Preclinical Data for Congenital CMV DNA Vaccine at International Conference
April 21 2015 - 6:30AM
- A Vaxfectin®-formulated gB DNA vaccine induces antibodies that
block cytomegalovirus entry into fibroblasts and epithelial cells
in preclinical study
- Data presented at the 5th International Congenital CMV
Conference in Brisbane, Australia
Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that Michael
McVoy, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth
University, presented data from preclinical studies testing several
combinations of Vaxfectin®- formulated glycoprotein-B (gB)-encoding
DNA vaccines for neutralizing antibody responses. The data were
featured at the 5th International Congenital CMV Conference held
April 20-24, 2015, in Brisbane, Australia. Vaxfectin is Vical's
novel, proprietary cationic lipid-based adjuvant and is used in
CyMVectin™, the company's congenital CMV vaccine candidate. The
studies found that vaccines encoding gB provided both fibroblast
and epithelial entry neutralizing titers that were comparable to
those observed in sera from humans with naturally-acquired CMV
infections. The data suggest that CyMVectin has the potential to
induce neutralizing antibodies against a broad range of cells.
"A vaccine to prevent birth defects caused by cytomegalovirus is
a public health priority," said Dr. Stuart Adler, M.D., Emeritus
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at Virginia
Commonwealth University. "Accumulating evidence suggests that
induction of antibodies that block viral entry into a broad range
of cell types is an important determinant of vaccine efficacy. A gB
DNA vaccine performs well in this regard, when compared with
responses induced by natural infection. In addition, the simplicity
of a single subunit delivered by DNA immunization is highly
attractive compared with more complicated vaccines in
development."
"We believe that induction of both fibroblast and epithelial
entry neutralizing antibodies is essential for providing protection
against CMV," said Larry Smith, PhD., Vical's Vice President of
Vaccine Research. "These findings support further development of
CyMVectin for prevention of congenital CMV infections."
About Congenital CMV
Currently, in the United States, approximately 40,000 children
are born with a congenital CMV infection each year. Of these, about
4,000 have symptoms at birth and will have severe sequelae
including deafness, mental impairment, and/or death. According to
the National Cytomegalovirus Registry for Pregnant Women,
congenital infection of a fetus usually occurs when a woman's first
CMV infection occurs during pregnancy. In the United States
approximately 60% of pregnant women are seronegative and between 1%
and 2% will have a primary CMV infection during pregnancy. The rate
of CMV transmission to the fetus after a primary maternal infection
during pregnancy is between 25% and 75% depending on gestational
time of infection.
About Vical
Vical develops biopharmaceutical products for the prevention and
treatment of chronic or life-threatening infectious diseases, based
on its patented DNA delivery technologies and other therapeutic
approaches. Additional information on Vical is available at
www.vical.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements
include the potential benefits of CyMVectin and potential future
development of CyMVectin. Risks and uncertainties include whether
Vical or others will continue development of CyMVectin, whether
planned clinical development of CyMVectin will begin when expected,
or at all, whether the results of future preclinical or clinical
studies will be consistent with prior preclinical studies or will
otherwise merit further development; whether Vical will seek or
gain approval to market any product candidates, including
CyMVectin; 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: Andrew Hopkins
(858) 646-1127
Website: www.vical.com
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