Vical and the University of Washington Receive U.S. Patent for Herpes Simplex DNA Vaccine
SANDIEGO, Dec. 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated(Nasdaq:VICL) announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,628,993covering DNA vaccines for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-2 isa sexually transmitted virus which is the leading cause of genitalherpes. Vical is collaborating under a previously disclosed grant(1) onthe preclinical development of an HSV-2 vaccine which will be designedfor use in people already infected with HSV-2, with the goal ofreducing or eliminating periodic viral flare-ups and the associatedviral shedding and transmission. The vaccine will be evaluated withVical's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant.
The new '993 patent covers DNA vaccines targeting a specificHSV-2 protein, formulated with or without Vical's Vaxfectin(R)adjuvant. It adds to Vical's family of patents in the United States andother key regions based on the company's discovery that administeringgenetic sequences such as DNA or RNA into the body, without the use ofviral delivery vehicles, may cause expression of the proteins encodedby the genetic sequences. Vical has additional issued patents coveringthe composition and use of the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant.
DNA vaccines encode certain proteins associated with a targetpathogen, rather than using any part of the pathogen itself, and canprime the immune system as well as induce potent antibody and T-cellimmune responses. DNA vaccines contain no viral particles, arenon-infectious, and can be administered on a repeat basis withoutunwanted immune responses. Additionally, DNA vaccines have thepotential to achieve proof of concept more quickly and cost-effectivelythan conventional vaccines, and can be manufactured using uniformmethods of fermentation and purification, allowing significantly fasterdevelopment and production.
HSV-2 Disease Burden
HSV-2 infections are persistent and result in periodic virusshedding. In the United States, at least 40 million people are infectedwith HSV-2, and approximately 1.6 million people are newly infectedeach year, with approximately 500,000 of those suffering from diseasesymptoms. Even higher infection rates are evident in developingcountries, with further complications in people also infected with HIV.There is currently no approved vaccine for HSV-2. Although antiviralregimens have become a standard of care, their inconvenience,cumulative cost over the years and potential for drug resistancehighlight the need for safe, new approaches to reducing HSV-2 lesions,shedding, and transmission. Estimated direct costs of treating HSV-2 inthe United States alone are close to $1 billion annually, primarily fordrugs and outpatient medical care, plus additional indirect costs ofmore than $200 million.
About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products basedon its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention andtreatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potentialapplications of the company's DNA delivery technology include DNAvaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressedprotein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which theexpressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovasculartherapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growthfactor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccinesand cancer therapeutics internally. In addition, the companycollaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnologycompanies that give it access to complementary technologies or greaterresources. These strategic partnerships provide the company withmutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline andaddress significant unmet medical needs. Additional information onVical is available at [url=http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ctr?d=180738&l=7&a=www.vical.com&u=http%3A%2F%2F
www.vical.com]www.vical.com[/url].
The Vical Incorporated logo is available at [url=http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ctr?d=180738&l=8&u=http%3A%2F%2F
www.globenewswire.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fprs%2F%3Fpkgid%3D5768]http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5768[/url]
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risksand uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those projected. Forward-looking statements include statementsabout the scope of coverage of and potential applications for Vical'spatents, the potential uses and benefits of Vical's vaccinetechnologies and their potential application in vaccines against HSV-2,as well as Vical's focus, collaborative partners, and productcandidates. Risks and uncertainties include whether Vical's technologywill be successfully applied; whether all funding under the grant willbe received by the company; whether the preclinical development effortswill result in a vaccine that can generate immune responses sufficientto reduce or eliminate periodic viral flare-ups and the associatedviral shedding and transmission; whether the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant willeffectively enhance the performance of the HSV-2 vaccine; whether Vicalor others will advance the HSV-2 vaccine candidate into human clinicaltesting; whether Vical's issued patents will be challenged and whethersuch challenges will have an adverse effect on the scope of thepatents; whether Vical will pursue enforcement of its issued patents orbe successful in any such enforcement efforts; whether Vical willsuccessfully prosecute additional patent applications and if so,whether such applications will lead to the issuance of additionalpatents; whether any product candidates will be shown to be safe andeffective in clinical trials; the timing, nature and cost of clinicaltrials; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gainapproval to market any product candidates; whether Vical or itscollaborative partners will succeed in marketing any productcandidates; and additional risks set forth in the company's filingswith the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-lookingstatements represent the company's judgment as of the date of thisrelease. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation toupdate these forward-looking statements.
Vical是美国圣迭戈的一间生物药品研发公司，为什么我那么感兴趣呢～？
嘿嘿～因为我今年买过他的股票～他在7，8月的时候因为发行H1N1的疫苗被炒的很火爆～
在疱疹疫苗的消息出来后，股票既然跌了～不过3天后高开20%，说实话，这个市场很大～他们真能打开～恐怕就牛了。
为什么贴这呢？因为这是对患者的疫苗～文章里说这种疫苗只针对HSV-2可防止复发，甚至杜绝复发～
文章中可以看到此疫苗处于PRE-实验室阶段～
其实就是测试有毒性～如果动物实验成功～在人体上的实验室试验就会很快展开了～
大家不要太兴奋～因为米国的FDA查得很严～这个动物实验恐怕要1-2年～所以最快也要2年后才能人体试验～至于上市恐怕就更久了～
anyway这是好消息～与各位共勉。LOL
