QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - 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 it has successfully completed initial studies towards the development of a new VLP vaccine candidate for rabies. Over the past 12 months, as part of the Company's strategy to further develop a pipeline of products, Medicago has been working diligently to expand the application of its VLP technology to new vaccine targets. Several research-stage products have demonstrated positive results, and the Company is working to advance selected targets into preclinical development, including its rabies vaccine.
Results with the rabies VLP vaccine demonstrated that two doses of one or four micrograms induced protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in a mouse model. Medicago expects to move ahead with GMP process development and a GLP toxicology study in 2012 and, following this, a Phase I clinical trial.
"The rabies virus is a significant problem, particularly in Asia, where current vaccines present challenges to access due to availability and cost, which we believe our VLP vaccine could address," said Andrew Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. "We see significant potential for our technologies in the development of VLP vaccines and biosimilars."
Rabies is a significant worldwide problem and, according to the World Health Organization, is responsible for approximately 55,000 deaths per year, primarily in Asia and Africa. While rabies vaccines produced in cell culture are currently available, there is limited access in many geographic areas and cost can be prohibitive. More than 15 million people are vaccinated annually following exposure to the rabies virus, many through a regimen requiring four to five intramuscular doses over three to four weeks. In addition, pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups such as veterinarians, animal handlers and certain laboratory workers.
Medicago's pipeline includes the initiation of a U.S.
Phase IIa clinical trial for a trivalent seasonal vaccine
with interim data expected in the third quarter of this
year. A Phase I clinical trial for a one-dose H5N1 VLP
vaccine with a new adjuvant is planned for the second quarter
of 2012, in partnership with the Infectious Disease Research
Institute (IDRI), with interim data expected in the second
half of this year. In addition to vaccines, Medicago is
conducting research and development in the area of biosimilar
products.
About Medicago
Medicago is committed to provide highly effective and
competitive vaccines based on proprietary VLP and
manufacturing technologies. Medicago is developing VLP
vaccines 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 .
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 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.
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