( SEATTLE May 31 2007 /PRNewswire-Firs...)Vaxfectin-formulated Measles DNA Vaccine Elicits Long-term,Protection and Sterilizing Immunity in Nonhuman Primates,Health

SEATTLE, May 31, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vical Incorporated today announced that a measles DNA vaccine formulated with the company's Vaxfectin(TM) adjuvant elicited protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in juvenile (1 - 2 year old) nonhuman primates confirmed by complete protection following challenge more than one year after vaccination, and sterilizing immunity as evidenced by no clinical signs of disease and no detectable virus after challenge. In a separate study, the same vaccine elicited protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in infant (6 - 10 weeks old) nonhuman primates with no vaccine-related adverse events. The studies were conducted in collaboration with Diane E. Griffin, M.D., Ph.D., Alfred and Jill Sommer Professor and Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, under a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"Sterilizing immunity is a rarely achieved ultimate goal in vaccination," said Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The ability to provide such complete immunity with no adverse events offers proof of concept for Vaxfectin(TM)-formulated DNA vaccines. We look forward to continued development of the measles vaccine program by our collaborators at Johns Hopkins."

"We have tested a number of measles DNA vaccines, and the data relating to Vical's Vaxfectin(TM)-formulated DNA vaccine showed marked differences both in terms of disease resistance after exposure and antibody levels over the other vaccines, without significant side effects," said Dr. Griffin. "These data are exciting because of the potential of providing safety and efficacy suitable for infants and young children in the developing world, and continued development could result in a major impact on global measles disease and death rates."

The study in juvenile rhesus macaques tested the protective efficacy o
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