International Scientific Conference Features Advances in Vaccine Development and Disease Prevention

Leading scientists from around the world will meet in Wilmington, Delaware at the Hotel du Pont, September 28 – October 1, 2008, to exchange information on innovative approaches for producing life-saving vaccines and antibodies to combat and prevent infectious disease epidemics worldwide.

More than 150 scientists and business leaders in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries will convene for the New Cells for New Vaccines III: From Lab Bench to Clinical Trials third annual international scientific conference. The event is organized by the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (under the auspices of the International Association for Biologicals-IABS, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland) and iBioPharma, Inc., both located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, Delaware.

“With threats of influenza pandemic and bio-terror agents, there is urgent global need to develop countermeasures against disease pathogens,” explained Vidadi Yusibov, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB).

Dr. Yusibov noted that over the past 50 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the types of cells that can be used for vaccine and antibody production. “However, there remains a need for new cell substrates that can provide safer, faster and more cost effective production alternatives to current techniques, especially given the inherent problems in existing vaccine development technologies,” Dr. Yusibov said.

“A key aspect of the success and viability of a vaccine development project is the choice of an appropriate cell substrate,” said Geoffrey Schild, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, iBioPharma, Inc., and Chair of the International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases. Dr. Schild currently leads iBioPharma’s development of vaccines and drugs by producing proteins in plants, using a technology developed by the nonprofit Fraunhofer USA CMB.

“The advantages of plant, animal and insect cell systems for vaccine production is recognized internationally with many projects in progress,” Dr. Schild said. These projects include development of respiratory virus, cervical cancer, anthrax and malaria vaccines, as well as therapeutic antibodies to treat influenza infections.

The four-day program includes 11 topic areas, with multiple sessions covering new substrates for vaccine development through clinical trial case studies. Renowned scientists and keynote speakers include:

Thomas Monath, M.D., Partner, Pandemic and Biodefense Fund, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (USA), has published over 340 papers and edited 6 books on the epidemiology, immunology and pathogenesis of viruses and vaccine development;

Sir John Skehel, Ph.D., of the National Institute for Medical Research (UK), is one of the world’s leading virologists and, most recently, a joint recipient of the 2007 International Louis D, Institut de France Grand Prize for research devoted to the fight against the transmission of diseases from animals to man;

Douglas Holtzman, M.D., Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA), the largest private foundation in the world with a global focus to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty;

Peter Hotez M.D., Ph.D., President, Sabin Vaccine Institute and Walter G. Ross Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University (USA), where his major research and academic interests are in neglected tropical disease control and vaccine development;

Lars R. Haaheim, Ph.D., Professor, Influenza Centre, University of Bergen, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The Gade Institute (Norway), where he leads extensive studies on the precise kinetics of the post-vaccination humoral and cellular immune response, as well as mucosal immunity. He currently serves on the Norwegian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Committee and was actively involved in preparing the first WHO Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan;

Suresh Jadhav, Ph.D., Executive Director, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, Serum Institute of India, Ltd., and President of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers’ Network (India), a voluntary public health driven alliance of vaccine manufacturers from developing countries with a goal to provide quality vaccines at affordable prices to the emerging world; and

Akira Homma, D.V.M., D.Sc., Director, Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil), was responsible for the creation and organization of this unit in 1976. He is a member of the Board of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and serves on several international committees in the area of vaccines and immunization.

Attendees of the conference will include distinguished scientists and business leaders who are involved in vaccine development and production, as well as public health officials, academic scientists, and medical and veterinary experts.

A complete agenda and registration information are available online at www.NewCellsforNewVaccines.com

About Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology

Fraunhofer USA CMB, a division of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., is a not-for-profit research organization whose mission is to develop safe and effective vaccines targeting infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. CMB’s technology provides a safe, rapid and economical alternative for vaccine production. The Center conducts research in the area of plant biotechnology, utilizing new, cutting edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases. The Center houses individuals with expertise and excellence in plant virology, pathology, molecular biology, immunology, vaccinology, protein engineering, and biochemistry.

Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest organization for applied research. Further information is available at www.fraunhofer-cmb.org.

For press registration to attend the workshop or for additional information, contact: Dale Ervin, Fraunhofer USA CMB at 302-369-3034 or dervin@fraunhofer-cmb.org