Multiple NIH Phase 2 HIV Vaccine Trials Using Vical's Technology Produce Encouragi...( SEATTLE Aug. 22 /- Vical Incorpor...),Health

SEATTLE, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL) announced today that results from a series of HIV vaccine Phase 2a clinical trials, using a plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine developed by the NIH Vaccine Research Center and manufactured by Vical, reinforced previously reported Phase 1 conclusions that a "DNA prime-adenoviral vector boost" vaccine regimen was safe and well-tolerated, and was effective in inducing T-cell immune responses in up to 70% of the vaccine recipients.

"These recent vaccine trials contribute to the growing body of knowledge demonstrating plasmid DNA priming as a key factor in achieving significant immune responses against HIV, a particularly difficult target pathogen, bringing us one step closer to evaluating the effectiveness of a prime-boost HIV vaccine regimen in a prophylactic setting," said Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The latest International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) listing of ongoing preventive HIV vaccine clinical trials shows that more than half use pDNA either alone or in combination with other vaccine modalities. We are very pleased that DNA technology is an integral part of the effort to address this high priority global health problem."

The trials involved priming an immune response with three doses of a pDNA vaccine over a two month period, based on Vical's proprietary DNA technology, and boosting the response with a single dose of adenoviral vector vaccine at six months. The three trials, collectively known as TRIAD, were conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) HIV Trials Vaccine Network (HVTN), the IAVI, and the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP). Richard Koup, M.D., Chief of Immunology at the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), highlighted TRIAD summary results and conclusions in an oral presentation, "Update on safety and immunogenicity
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