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Intercell AG

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New TB vaccine enters clinical trials

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
18.11.2005
A new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine has been designed at Statens Serum
Institut (SSI), Copenhagen. While the current TB vaccine, the
Calmette (BCG) vaccine, efficiently protects children against TB,
protection gradually decreases after 10-15 years and the vaccine
provides limited protection against the disease in adults in the
third world. In collaboration with Intercell AG and supported by the
European Union, SSI now initiates clinical trials of a TB subunit
vaccine that aims to either replace the Calmette vaccine or boost its
activity in adults.
Copenhagen (Denmark)/Vienna (Austria), November 18, 2005 - TB causes
the death of two-three million people every year and one-third of the
world’s population is infected by the bacteria Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis which makes this disease one of the most severe global
health problems.
The Calmette (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)) is a live vaccine that,
when given to newborns, provides good protection against TB for 10-15
years. However, when the protective effect decreases, yet another BCG
vaccination does not provide sufficient TB protection. Therefore, a
new type of TB vaccine is needed to address the need of TB protection
in the adult population in the developing countries.
"Previous exposure to mycobacteria induces an immune response which
seems to prevent the replication of BCG vaccine and the induction of
immunity. The new vaccine is thus designed to protect against TB,
even though an individual has previously been BCG vaccinated or
exposed to other closely related mycobacteria often found in the
environment in the third world", explains Peter Andersen, Director of
Vaccine Research and Development, SSI.
The new vaccine candidate from SSI is a recombinant subunit vaccine
based on two important TB antigens combined with an adjuvant
developed by the Austrian Biotech company Intercell AG.
Intercell's CSO, Alexander von Gabain, commented: "The new vaccine is
based on our potent synthetic adjuvant IC31TM, which has been shown
to stimulate strong and long-lasting T cell immune responses, being
crucial for an effective TB vaccine."
The phase I clinical trial will start this week at the Department of
Infectious Diseases at Leiden University Medical Center in the
Netherlands supported by the European Union-funded program "TB-VAC".
About Statens Serum Institut (SSI): Statens Serum Institut
(www.ssi.dk) is a public enterprise operating as a market-oriented
production and service enterprise. Statens Serum Institut is an
enterprise under the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health, and
the Institute’s duties are partly integrated in the national Danish
health services. Statens Serum Institut prevents and controls
infectious diseases and congenital disorders.
The expertise includes:  • Monitoring, advising and teaching on the
incidence, prevention and treatment   of infectious diseases and
congenital disorders.  • Specializing in the diagnosis of infectious,
autoimmune, congenital and    genetic diseases.  • Ensuring the
supply of vaccines, other biological products and diagnostic
services through production and procurement. • Preparedness against
biological terrorism. • Research and development in the Institute's
areas of activity at an    international level.
The Statens Serum Institute aims to ensure advanced control of
infectious diseases, including new infections and biological threats.
The Institute also strives to be a highly regarded and recognized
national and international research, production and service
enterprise.
About Intercell AG: Intercell AG is a fast growing biotechnology
company focusing on the design and development of novel vaccines for
prevention and treatment of diseases with substantial unaddressed
medical need. The Company’s unique position is based on the
combination of antigens and immunizers (adjuvants) derived from its
proprietary technology platforms and its in-house GMP manufacturing
facilities. Intercell’s technology has been endorsed by collaborative
agreements with a number of global pharmaceutical companies,
including sanofi pasteur, Merck&Co., Inc., SciGen Ltd. and the
Statens Serum Institut. The Company has a broad development pipeline
with a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis in Phase III, a vaccine for
Hepatitis C undergoing Phase II trials, and five products focused on
infectious diseases in the pre-clinical phase. Intercell is listed on
the Vienna stock exchange under the symbol "ICLL". For more
information please visit: www.intercell.com
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain
forward-looking statements concerning Intercell AG and its business.
Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results,
financial condition, performance or achievements of Intercell AG to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Intercell AG is providing this communication as of this date and does
not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained
herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc 18.11.2005 07:30:00

Further inquiry note:

Intercell AG
Mag. Katharina Wieser
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel. +43 1 20620-303
kwieser@intercell.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN: A0D8HW
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market

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