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TechnoVax Reports on a VLP Vaccine Designed to Protect Against the Devastating 1918 Pandemic Influenza As Well As a Novel Bivalent VLP Vaccine Candidate

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 July 2007, 12:15 CDT

TechnoVax Inc., a vaccine biotechnology company located in Tarrytown, NY presented results based on its novel virus-like particle (VLP) technology at the American Society for Virology Annual Meeting, being held at Oregon State University, Corvallis Oregon. Preclinical data on its 1918 VLP vaccine, designed to protect against the highly virulent 1918 pandemic influenza virus that killed approximately 50 million people worldwide, showed protection against a surrogate virus in animals. Also, TechnoVax, Inc. presented data on its novel bivalent VLP vaccine technology which creates VLP vaccines each bearing two antigenically distinct molecules. A single bivalent VLP will afford protecting against two antigenically distinct influenza viruses.

TechnoVax's virus-like particle (VLP) technology is a novel way to address protection against dangerous pandemic viruses because the VLPs contain no infectious material but are highly immunogenic. The results of the study are being published in a peer reviewed journal which will be published in September.

TechnoVax's VLP vaccine technology uses a cell-based system for production rather than chicken eggs which should reduce manufacturing steps and costs while increasing vaccine protection against more than one virus.

"These are important accomplishments for TechnoVax, since they demonstrate that our novel VLP technology generates protective immunity. TechnoVax is committed to the development and advancement of prophylactic vaccines using our patented VLP technology which we originally invented and patented, but also generates new proprietary know-how which strengthens our position" says Dr. Galarza, President and Founder of TechnoVax, Inc.

Advantages of VLPs

TechnoVax's VLP vaccine technology produces structures that are morphologically identical to a virus and highly immunogenic but lack genetic material required for virus replication and infection. VLP-based vaccines, therefore, do not require chemical inactivation or attenuation as do some of the currently available vaccines. Vaccines based on VLPs trigger an immune response by mimicking the presence of the actual virus to the host immune cells.

TechnoVax's VLP technology allows for the production of vaccines against influenza in a cell-based rather than an egg-based system. The technology can also be implemented for the production of vaccines directed against other infectious agents and cancer targets. This is one of the more advanced technologies in the vaccine field.

About TechnoVax Inc.

TechnoVax is committed to the development of novel vaccines which are safer and more effective than those currently available. TechnoVax is presently evaluating preclinical phase vaccines to protect against H5N1 avian flu (several clades/variants), 1918 ("Spanish Flu"), H7N7 pandemic influenza, seasonal flu, and respiratory syncytial and parainfluenza viruses.

Source: Business Wire

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