QUEBEC CITY, QC, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG), a
biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and
affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and
Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced its operational and
financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. The
Company’s financial statements and management report are available at www.sedar.com and at www.medicago.com.
“During the second quarter, we made significant progress on the clinical
advancement of our product pipeline. Our positive Phase II clinical
trial results for our H5N1 vaccine candidate coupled with our positive
U.S. Phase I clinical trial results for our seasonal vaccine candidate
continue to demonstrate that our rapid plant-based vaccine technology
produces VLP vaccines that are safe and among the most effective of the
industry,” said Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. “The
second half of 2011 will see the opening of our 97,000 square foot U.S.
grade vaccine facility, the continued development of our seasonal flu
vaccine candidate with a U.S. clinical trial, as well as the expansion
of our product pipeline outside of influenza and potential contracts
with governments and pharmaceutical companies.”
Highlights:
Corporate
-- Reported positive phase II results for its clinical trial with
its H5N1 avian influenza vaccine. The vaccine was found to be
safe, well tolerated and also induced a solid immune response
which is among the most effective of the industry.
-- Reported positive U.S. phase I results in its clinical trial
with its H1N1 / seasonal influenza vaccine candidate. All
tested doses were found safe and well-tolerated. A single dose
of 5 ¼g met the 3 CHMP immunogenicity criteria.This phase I
trial is expected to lead to Medicago's U.S. phase IIa trial
for its seasonal trivalent vaccine with the recommended H1N1,
H3N2 and B influenza strains.
-- Signed research collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical
Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) for the
development of a VLP vaccine candidate for the prevention of
Ebola.
-- Signed research collaboration with a top 10 global
pharmaceutical company for the development of a non-influenza
vaccine candidate.
Financial
-- Received the third milestone payment of $5.6 million (U.S.)
from DARPA. This is part of the $21-million (U.S.) DARPA grant
awarded to Medicago to demonstrate the scalable manufacturing
of its plant-expressed virus-like particle vaccines in the
United States under a technology investment agreement. Medicago
has received $16.3 million (U.S.) to date for this project.
-- Closed an offering of 34,117,600 units at a price of $0.51 per
unit, representing gross proceeds of $17,399,976. Each Unit is
comprised of one common share and one quarter of one common
share purchase warrant. Each full Warrant has an exercise
price of $0.75, exercisable for a period of 24 months. Philip
Morris Investments BV, an insider of the Company, participated
in the offering and acquired 17,058,800 units.
Outlook
Upcoming milestones include among others:
-- Operational U.S. vaccine facility
-- Initiation of U.S. phase II clinical trial with trivalent
seasonal vaccine if authorization granted by the FDA
-- Potential contracts with governments and pharmaceutical
companies
-- Addition of new pipeline candidates
Financial Results
The Compay’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as at
June 30, 2011 and for the six months then ended have been prepared in
accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board. Additionally, the Company’s unaudited consolidated
statement of financial position as at January 1, 2010 and the
comparative unaudited consolidated financial statements for 2010 have
been adjusted to reflect our adoption of IFRS on a retrospective basis,
effective on January 1, 2010 (the “Transition Date”). Consequently, all
comparative financial information presented in this MD&A reflects the
consistent, retrospective application of IFRS.
For the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2011, the Company had
revenues of $38,000 that were generated by the research collaboration
agreement for the development of a non-influenza vaccine candidate with
a top 10 global pharmaceutical company announced earlier this year.
Revenues in 2010 were generated by the successful completion of the
proof of concept contract with the United States Army Research,
Development and Engineering Command for $34,000.
Consolidated loss for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2011
were $4,883,000 and $9,934,000, or $0.03 and $0.06 per basic and
diluted share compared to a loss of $3,998,000 and $7,741,000, or $0.03
and $0.07 per basic and diluted share for the three and six-month
period ended June 30, 2010. Increase in the loss for the six month
period is mainly explained by the increase in R&D expenses in relation
with the H5N1 Phase II clinical trial and the H1N1/seasonal vaccine
Phase I clinical trial.
Cash and short-term investments were $16.6 million as at June 30, 2011
an increase of $8.1 Million from December 31, 2010. In April 2011,
Medicago closed an offering of 34,117,600 units at a price of $0.51 per
Unit, representing gross proceeds of $17,399,976.
As at August 12, 2011, there were 173,416,202 common shares issued and
outstanding as well as 8,539,508 stock options outstanding. Warrants
outstanding and Unit options outstanding as at August 12, 2011
represented a total of 27,277,736.
About Medicago
Medicago is committed to provide highly effective and competitive
vaccines based on proprietary Virus-Like Particle (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 the
cells of non-transgenic plants. This technology has potential to offer
advantages of speed and cost over competitive technologies. It promises
a vaccine for testing in about a month after the identification and
reception of genetic sequences from a pandemic strain. 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 o 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 31,
2011 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.
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