Medicago to present additional positive clinical data at the 2011ESWI influenza conference

- all three standard antibody tests confirm the strong immunogenicity of
Medicago’s H5N1 and H1N1 VLP vaccine candidates -

QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG) a
biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and
competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies
and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that Dr. Brian Ward
will be presenting clinical data at the Fourth ESWI Influenza
Conference, Malta 2011. The presentation, entitled “Plant-Made
Influenza Virus-Like Particles: An Effective way of Producing Next
Generation Vaccines”, will discuss the Company’s positive clinical
results from its phase II pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine clinical
trial and its U.S. phase I seasonal influenza trial. Medicago’s H5N1
and H1N1 VLP-based vaccines were well-tolerated, produced no
vaccine-related serious adverse events and induced a strong antibody
response. In addition, the VLP vaccine candidates promoted cell
mediated immune responses in many subjects.

Medicago’s phase II clinical trial for its H5N1 VLP influenza vaccine
candidate was conducted in two parts. Part A of the study enrolled 135
healthy volunteers who received Medicago’s vaccine at varying dosage
levels or the placebo to determine the optimal dose. The volunteers
received two doses 21 days apart and data was analyzed 21 days after
the last dose. Part B of the study enrolled 120 additional healthy
volunteers who were immunized with Medicago’s vaccine at the optimal
dose of 20ug (104) or the placebo (16). These volunteers similarly
received two doses 21 days apart with the data analyzed 21 days after
the last dose. The Hemagglutination-Inhibition (HI), Single Radial
Hemolysis (SRH) and Microneutralisation (MN) antibody tests confirmed
the strong immunogenicity of the H5 VLP vaccine at all tested doses.
Part B of the phase 2 trial showed that the H5 VLP vaccine is equally
immunogenic in young and older adults.

Medicago’s U.S. phase I clinical trial for its H1N1 VLP influenza
vaccine enrolled 100 healthy volunteers between the ages 18 to 49. The
volunteers received one of the following; a single non-adjuvanted dose
of Medicago’s H1N1 vaccine at varying doses (5ug, 13ug, 28ug), an
injection of the placebo or an H1N1 vaccine from a licensed trivalent
vaccine. The Hemagglutination-Inhibition (HI), Single Radial Hemolysis
(SRH) and Microneutralisation (MN) antibody tests confirmed the strong
immunogenicity of a single non-adjuvanted dose of H1 VLP vaccine at all
tested doses. 

Dr. Brian Ward stated: “This work conclusively demonstrates that
plant-made VLP vaccines bearing influenza HA molecules can elicit
strong immune responses in humans. The fact that such a vaccine could
be made against a new viral strain within just a few weeks using this
platform would be a huge advantage in the event of a future pandemic.”

About Medicago

Medicago is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, developing effective
and competitive vaccines based on proprietary Virus-Like Particles
(VLP) and manufacturing technologies. Medicago is developing VLP
vaccines to protect against pandemic and seasonal influenza, using a
transient expression system which produces recombinant vaccine antigens
in non-transgenic plants. This technology has potential to offer
advantages of speed and cost over competitive technologies. It could
deliver a vaccine for testing in about a month after the identification
and reception of the genetic sequence. This production time frame has
the potential to allow vaccination of the population before the first
wave of a pandemic strikes and to supply large volumes of vaccine
antigens to the world market. Additional information about Medicago is
available at www.medicago.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are
based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties
associated with Medicago’s business and the environment in which the
business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not
statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking,
including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”,
“plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, and similar expressions to the
extent they relate to Medicago or its management. The forward-looking
statements are not historical facts, but reflect Medicago’s current
expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current
expectations, including the matters discussed under “Risks Factors and
Uncertainties” in Medicago’s Annual Information Form filed on March 24,
2010 with the regulatory authorities. Medicago assumes no obligation to
update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why
actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking
statements.

SOURCE Medicago Inc.