Tuesday March 27, 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Vical Incorporated
Vical Announces Positive Phase I/II Results With
Naked DNA Cancer Vaccine
NEW ORLEANS, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL - news)
today announced positive safety and immunogenicity results in the Phase I/II trial of Vaxid, a
patient-specific naked DNA vaccine for low-grade, non-Hodgkin's, B-cell lymphoma.
Stanford University investigator, John Timmerman, M.D., reported at the 92nd Annual
Conference of the American Association of Cancer Research that Vaxid was not only safe in
these patients, but also generated both cellular and humoral immune responses. Professor
Ronald Levy, M.D., Chief, Division of Oncology, at Stanford University and Principal
Investigator on this trial said, ``Non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma typically exhibits a slow
growth rate and excellent initial response to current treatments. However, there is a regular
pattern of relapse to a widespread, aggressive lymphoma. It is hoped that, with further
development, Vaxid may be able to prevent or delay a relapse in some of these patients.''
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Stanford University Medical Research
Center, was designed to determine if Vaxid would produce an immune response against the
patient's B-cell lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma is a disease in which cells in the
lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissue grow abnormally.
Vical President and Chief Executive Officer, Vijay Samant, remarked, ``We are pleased with
the initial success the Stanford team has achieved with Vical's patient-specific, DNA-based
cancer vaccine. These are the first clinical results that support the potential application of
Vical's proprietary technology in the exciting field of cancer vaccines. The results add further
data to support the broad applicability of naked DNA in the areas of therapeutic and
preventive medicine.''
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 56,000 Americans are expected to
be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2001. It is the fifth most common cancer in
the U.S., excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. B-cell lymphoma will account for 85% of
these diagnoses.
Vical Incorporated, The Naked DNA Company(TM), is focused on the development of pharmaceutical product candidates
based on its patented gene delivery technology. A number of therapeutic and vaccine product candidates are currently under
development for the prevention or treatment of cancer, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders by Vical and its
collaborative partners, including Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc., Aventis Pasteur, Aventis Pharma, Human Genome Sciences,
Centocor Inc., Merial and Boston Scientific Corporation. Allovectin-7®, which uses a lipid-DNA complex to help the immune
system recognize and attack cancer cells, is in Phase II and Phase III testing in certain patients with metastatic melanoma and in
Phase II testing in patients with head and neck cancer. Leuvectin(TM), which uses a lipid-DNA complex to stimulate an
immune response against cancer cells, is in Phase II testing in patients with kidney cancer and prostate cancer. Vaxid, a naked
DNA vaccine to prevent relapse of B-cell lymphoma, is in Phase I/II testing. In collaboration with the National Cancer Institute,
a naked DNA vaccine to treat metastatic melanoma is in Phase I/II testing. If you are interested in any of Vical's clinical trials,
please see our website at www.vical.com, or contact Tammy Boyce by phone at 858/646-1120 or by e-mail at
tboyce@vical.com.
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 statements about the company's focus, collaborative
partners, product candidates, and developmental status. Risks and uncertainties include whether any product candidates will be
shown to be safe and efficacious in clinical trials, the timing of clinical trials, whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek
or gain approval to market 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.
For news releases and other information about the company, visit the Vical web site at www.vical.com.
SOURCE: Vical Incorporated |
