GeneOne Life Science and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Partner to Develop MERS Vaccine
November 10 2015 - 3:17PM
GeneOne Life Science Inc. (KSE:011000) today announced that it has
signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) to advance GLS-5300,
GeneOne’s DNA vaccine for MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
GeneOne is co-developing GLS-5300 with its affiliate Inovio
Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO).
As part of this agreement, GeneOne and WRAIR
will test the GLS-5300 vaccine in a first-in-human phase I clinical
study to be executed at the WRAIR’s Clinical Trials Center. WRAIR
will be responsible for all relevant MERS vaccine clinical trial
procedures and costs at the Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is caused by a
coronavirus that is related to the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) virus that infected more than 8,000 people over 10
years ago, with a 10% death rate. There is no vaccine or licensed
therapeutic against MERS, which spreads from human to human. Since
2012, over 1,650 people have had documented MERS infections and
almost 600 (40%) have died. Recently, the largest outbreak of this
emergent global health concern outside of Saudi Arabia infected 186
people in South Korea with 36 fatalities.
Earlier this year, GLS-5300 induced 100%
protection from a live virus challenge in a preclinical animal
study. As published in Science Translational Medicine, the vaccine
induced robust immune responses capable of preventing the virus
from infecting cells in mice, camels and monkeys. In monkeys, all
vaccinated animals in the study were protected from symptoms of
MERS when challenged with a live MERS virus.
COL Stephen Thomas, an infectious diseases
physician and WRAIR’s Deputy Commander of Operations, expressed
concern over the recent MERS outbreak in South Korea and the
sustained transmission being observed in the Middle East. “It is
very important we seize the opportunity to advance promising MERS
vaccine candidates into human trials. We want to understand this
vaccine’s safety and potential to protect as soon as possible. I
believe U.S. military personnel could be at risk in the event of a
large scale MERS outbreak. For this reason, I am glad we will
collaborate with GeneOne to take the next steps in developing this
vaccine candidate,” Thomas said.
Mr. Young K. Park, CEO, GeneOne, said, “We are
pleased to collaborate with the world-class clinicians and
scientists at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Our
partnership with WRAIR will be a catalyst to rapidly advance MERS
vaccine development. GeneOne is taking a leading role responding to
the MERS health crises and stands ready to advance other DNA
vaccines for challenging infectious diseases.
About GeneOne Life Science
GeneOne Life Science Inc. is an international
DNA vaccine developer and leading contract manufacturer of DNA
plasmid-based agents for pre-clinical and clinical trials for
global companies and institutions. It researches and develops DNA
vaccines to prevent and treat incurable diseases in South Korea and
internationally. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South
Korea. VGXI, Inc., GeneOne's wholly-owned manufacturing subsidiary
located in Texas, is the largest pure-play cGMP DNA plasmid
manufacturing facility in the world.
About the Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research (WRAIR)
Established in 1893, the WRAIR is the Department
of Defense’s largest biomedical research and development laboratory
with a global mission to protect U.S. Service Members from
naturally occurring infectious diseases. WRAIR has an extensive
international research network that includes sites in Africa,
Southeast Asia, and Caucasia (Georgia). The Institute is comprised
of research centers focusing on infectious diseases and military
psychiatry and neuroscience. For more information, visit websites
for WRAIR or its Clinical Trials Center.
Media Contacts:
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Dr. Debra Yourick
Office: 301-319-9471
Mobile: 301-792-3941
debra.l.yourick.civ@mail.mil
GeneOne Life Science
Jeffrey C. Richardson
267-440-4211
jeff@richardsonglobalpr.com
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024