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Joint development of vaccines against avian flu: AmVac AG cooperates with National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan

Zug, Switzerland (ots)

Swiss AmVac AG establishes comprehensive
collaboration with the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan
to combat H5N1. H5N1/Influenza A is a flu virus known colloquially as
"avian flu". "Avian flu" first occurred in Asia, and was transmitted
to humans in a number of cases.
AmVac's CSO Prof. Michel Klein attended the opening ceremony of
the pilot plant Vaccine Centre of the National Health Research
Institutes in Taiwan. It was resolved to launch a joint collaboration
with the aim of developing a new avian flu vaccine. The Taiwanese
scientists have decided to use the vaccine adjuvant MALP-2 from AmVac
AG for this. The AmVac adjuvant is eminently suitable for absorption
through the mucosal membranes. Thus, for the first time, a nasal
spray that is safe and at the same time easy to handle, could be
feasible as a vaccination product. Through the use of this innovative
and highly potential adjuvant, AmVac AG is making a decisive
contribution to the development of a novel H5N1 vaccine: the immune
system is strengthened effectively and permanently. At the same time,
the implementation of the adjuvant makes it possible to reduce the
quantity of the antigen used, which is often expensive. Therefore,
large quantities of vaccine can be produced more quickly and at a
lower price. This is essential, particularly in case of a possible
pandemic.
Prof. Michel Klein, CSO of AmVac AG: "Mucosal vaccination via the
mucous membranes is the most efficient strategy to elicit both strong
local and systemic immunity against respiratory viruses. Intranasal
immunization against flu would allow for the production of protective
antibody responses at the site of entry of the virus."
Up to now, the development of a flu vaccine spray has been
hampered by the lack of a safe adjuvant capable of enhancing strong
mucosal immunity. AmVac has acquired exclusive rights to the adjuvant
MALP-2 (Macrophage Activating Lipopeptide-2), developed by Prof. C.
Guzman at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in
Braunschweig, for all infectious diseases worldwide. This synthetic,
well-tolerated class of adjuvants acts as a "Toll-like" receptor
agonist in activating cells of the immune system and thus at central
sites in mediation of the immune response. Animal models have already
shown strong antibody and cellular responses. Preliminary results in
mice have revealed that the pandemic H5N1 flu vaccine combined with
MALP-2, elicits flu-specific antibodies following intranasal
immunization. The first clinical studies on the H5N1 vaccine will
start in 2009, while the implementation of the combination with the
adjuvant is planned for the clinical setting in 2011.
AmVac AG
AmVac AG is a biopharmaceutical company situated in Switzerland.
The company focuses on the vaccine market with its above-average
growth figures. There are two therapeutic vaccines in the pipeline,
which are soon to be launched in the fields of gynecology and
urology. Further innovative vaccines and technologies are at the
development stage. The renowned market research company Frost &
Sullivan awarded AmVac AG the coveted prize "Enabling Technology of
the Year Award" in 2007.

Contact:

Ariane Meynert, Head of PR/IR
Tel.: +41/41/725'32'34
Mobile: +41/79/793'34'19
E-Mail: meynert@amvac.ch

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