Ebola Vaccine Tested

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*** This is a trial being conducted by the National Institute of Health, using

a vaccine developed by Vical Incorporated. While a small sample, phase 1

(safety) testing leads to a wider group in phase 2. This looks promising!***

Ebola DNA vaccine produces immune responses in all fully vaccinated volunteers

in Phase 1 trial Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today that an Ebola

vaccine candidate administered using Vical's proprietary DNA delivery technology

was safe and well tolerated, and produced both antibody and T-cell

Ebola-specific responses in all healthy volunteers who received the full 3 doses

of vaccine. The Phase 1, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation

study, the first human trial for any Ebola vaccine, was sponsored by the

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National

Institutes of Health (NIH), and conducted at the NIH Clinical Center. The data

were presented at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) 2006 Biodefense

Research Meeting in Washington, D.C., by E. , D.O., a trial

investigator and research scientist at NIAID's Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine

Research Center (VRC), which developed the vaccine. The DNA vaccine used in the

Phase 1 trial incorporates genetic material encoding core and surface proteins

from two strains of Ebola. Vical has secured a nonexclusive license from the NIH

to proprietary gene sequences used in the vaccine. " The high rates of immune

responses at all dose levels in this initial human Ebola vaccine study support

continued development of this vaccine and further evaluation of our technology

for potential additional biodefense and emerging disease applications, " said

C. Kaslow, M.D., Vical's Chief Scientific Officer, " particularly where

antibody responses may be protective. Our processes allow rapid development and

manufacturing of vaccines without handling potentially dangerous pathogens. "

The vaccine used in the Phase 1 trial vaccine included

three plasmids (closed loops of DNA), one each encoding the surface

glycoprotein (GP) from the Zaire strain of Ebola, GP from the Sudan/Gulu strain,

and the internal nucleoprotein (NP) from the Zaire strain. Subjects received

three doses of vaccine or placebo at one-month intervals via intramuscular

needleless injection. Three cohorts tested progressively higher doses of the

vaccine at 2 mg (5 subjects), 4 mg (8 subjects), or 8 mg (8 subjects – with 6

receiving the full three doses). Each cohort included two additional subjects

who received placebo instead of active vaccine. The vaccine was well

tolerated, with no severe adverse reactions to the vaccine reported at any of

the doses tested. Ebola-specific antibody responses against at least one of the

encoded antigens were detected in all vaccine recipients. GP-specific antibody

and T-cell responses were detected in all recipients who received the full three

doses at all dose levels.

" The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

because he loves what is behind him. " - GK Chesterton

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