In late 2002, an epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS spread throughout the Guangdong Province of China. By 2003, the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract disease had affected more than 8,000 and killed more than 900 people in 25 countries before it was brought under control.
Today, biopharmaceutical companies are making advances for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as SARS through extensive research and development and DNA vaccines. Studies show that DNA vaccines have the potential to achieve desired response more quickly and cost effectively than conventional vaccines.
Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL) researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies with potential applications to fight infections diseases or cancer.
The company today announced that the results from a phase I clinical trial of a DNA vaccine for SARS showed that the vaccine was well-tolerated and was successful in neutralizing antibody and T-cell immune responses in 80 percent of the patients. Vical says it has made preparations to address another epidemic if needed, and continues to move forward with other applications of the vaccine.
“Like many emerging infectious diseases, SARS is suspected of having origins in an animal reservoir and is therefore likely to re-emerge at some point in the future,” Vijay Samant, Vical’s president and CEO stated in the press release. “With the data from this successful pase I trial and control of the IND, we are prepared to advance this vaccine quickly in the event of another outbreak. In the meantime, we can look to the model established with this program in addressing other emerging infectious diseases.”
The trial results were published in the November 25 issue of Vaccine(1), which highlighted the speed in which the phase I trial was initiated. It also noted that Vical’s vaccine was the first SARS vaccine human clinical trial conducted in the United States.
The author of the article writes, “This vaccine also demonstrates the feasibility of rapid manufacturing and regulatory review and provides additional safety and immunogenicity data to support the concept of DNA vaccination as a potential vaccine platform for future emerging infectious diseases.”
About QualityStocks:
QualityStocks’ Small Cap Stock Newsletter is a free service that collects data from hundreds of Small-Cap online Investment Newsletters into one free Daily Newsletter Report.
Sign up for “The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter” please visit www.QualityStocks.net
The Quality Stocks Daily Stock Report http://video.qualitystocks.net
The Quality Stocks Daily Blog http://blog.qualitystocks.net
The Quality Stocks “Ones to Watch” http://Gotstocks.QualityStocks.net
Please see disclaimer on QualityStocks website: http://disclaimer.qualitystocks.net
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment