SAN DIEGO, Apr 22, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Vical Incorporated (VICL)announced today that the company's TransVax(TM) cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine
elicited sustained increases in both cellular and antibody immune responses
compared with placebo through the final 12-month follow-up in an ongoing Phase 2
trial in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Richard T. Kenney, M.D.,
Vical's Vice President of Clinical Development, is presenting the encouraging
preliminary data today at the World Vaccine Congress (Washington -- April 19-22).
"We were excited to see that our TransVax(TM) vaccine was able to enhance both
T-cell and antibody responses to the encoded CMV antigens through the final
12-month data point," said Dr. Kenney, "and we are excited to see how these
responses impact viral control. We also saw an encouraging boost in both T-cell
and antibody responses after the fourth injection, which could prove important in
controlling late-onset CMV reactivation. We expect to complete our analysis of
the final trial data and report on our full evaluation of viral load and clinical
endpoints in the third quarter."
About TransVax(TM)
TransVax(TM) is a bivalent DNA vaccine containing plasmids (closed loops of DNA)
encoding CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) and glycoprotein B (gB) for induction of
cellular and humoral immune responses. TransVax(TM) is formulated with a
proprietary poloxamer-based delivery system. The Phase 2 trial is evaluating the
potential for TransVax(TM) to prevent CMV reactivation in immunosuppressed
CMV-seropositive hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients, which could
reduce antiviral usage and CMV-associated disease. At the 12-month immunogenicity
analysis by group, TransVax(TM) continued to provide increased cellular
immunological responses to both encoded CMV antigens, and increased antibody
responses to gB, compared with placebo. TransVax(TM) has received orphan drug
designation for HCT and solid organ transplant patients.
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 http://www.vical.com.
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