IMVAMUNE(TM) Vaccine - Protection Against Smallpox in 3 Days

YAHOO Financial News ^ | Thursday February 24, 10:27 am ET | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

WASHINGTON and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- IMVAMUNE(TM), a third-generation Modified Virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine under development by Bavarian Nordic of Denmark, is expected to be effective against smallpox three days after one vaccination compared to traditional replicating vaccines (i.e., DryVax(R)) that only show protection after 10-14 days.

Presenting today on the status of the company's IMVAMUNE safe smallpox vaccine program at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference in New York City, Peter Wulff, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic said: "Based on data from a number of our animal models and clinical trials, Bavarian Nordic expects IMVAMUNE(TM) to be effective and to protect against smallpox infection 3 days after just one vaccination while traditional replicating vaccines only show protection after 10 to 14 days."

The biological mechanism behind traditional replicating smallpox vaccines that are available today or under development, takes time to build up in the body to a level where an immune response can be detected. Traditional replicating smallpox vaccines induce protection over a period of 10 to 14 days after vaccination. In contrast, Bavarian Nordic presented data today showing that a non-replicating MVA vaccine given at a higher injectable dose induces an immune response very quickly, with the added benefit that it is safer than the traditional smallpox vaccines.

In an emergency situation, where protection against smallpox is a top priority, IMVAMUNE(TM) has shown in trials to-date to be both a safer vaccine with a faster-acting onset of action significantly earlier than traditional vaccines.

Background

Need for a safe smallpox vaccine

All traditional replicating smallpox vaccines have been associated with the severe side effects such as encephalitis, generalized vaccinia infection, Eczema vaccinatum, local progressive vaccinia infection, and Myo-pericarditis.

Because of these severe side-effects -- 25% of the population should NOT be given current smallpox vaccines. This "at risk" population includes, the very young, elderly, pregnant, people who are immune-compromised (HIV-infected and AIDS patients, persons with atopic disorders such as eczema as well as others). In addition, persons in close contact with this "at risk" group should also avoid vaccination with current vaccines due to the risk of accidentally exposing the replicating vaccine to these people.

IMVAMUNE(TM) Global Clinical Development and Production

Bavarian Nordic's global IMVAMUNE(TM) smallpox vaccine development program began in 1999 -- long before the events of 9/11 -- resulting today in a strong clinical data package making it by far the leading program for registration as a safe smallpox vaccine. The company has completed 2 clinical studies in Europe, a Phase I study in 86 healthy volunteers and a Phase II dose-finding study in 165 healthy volunteers. In addition the company has 3 ongoing studies, a Phase I trial comparing IMVAMUNE(TM) to DryVax(R), a Phase I study in patients with atopic disorders and a Phase II study in HIV-infected patients. In the first two studies, enrolment and vaccination of patients has almost been completed. Later this year, Bavarian Nordic will initiate 3 more Phase II studies in 2000 subjects, including healthy volunteers and patients suffering from atopic disorders. One of the studies will be yet another trial comparing IMVAMUNE(TM) to DryVax(R).

Bavarian Nordic expects to begin production of IMVAMUNE(TM) smallpox vaccine at its Danish manufacturing plant this summer. GlaxoSmithKline is Bavarian Nordic's global partner in the manufacture of IMVAMUNE(TM), an arrangement that offers extra security to international governmental customers.

US Government's MVA program

Bavarian Nordic is participating in an ongoing US government program to develop a safe smallpox vaccine based on the Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus. The company has been awarded 2 contracts from the US government under this program with a potential value of more than USD 171 million. The third phase in this program will be the award of a contract to supply the US government with up to 60 million doses of an MVA vaccine to be stockpiled. While the government's requirements were expected to be issued in 2004, they are anticipated shortly.

For more information about Bavarian Nordic and IMVAMUNE(TM) please visit http://www.bavarian-nordic.com.

Source: Bavarian Nordic

[Paleo Conservative]

This is good news. Not only is this vaccine faster than the traditional live vacccinia vaccine, but it is much safer too. This will eliminate the arguments that it is too dangerous to vaccinate emergency personnel, because they can spread vaccinia to people with weakened immune systems like AIDS and cancer patients.

Here is a list of previous Free Republic threads on smallpox.

[Paleo Conservative]

ping!

[WIladyconservative]

I'm confused - does this mean that people like me with atopic skin disorders like eczema can get this vaccine eventually if needed?

I know when smallpox was in the news 3 years ago my doctor told me NEVER to get the (then current) vaccine - he couldn't have it either, because of the atopic disorder.

There's hope then?

[Paleo Conservative]

There's hope then?

I think so. Neither I nor my brother can take the conventional vaccine, so I'm glad someone's finally released an alternative to the conventional live vaccinia vaccine. I think it will be practical now to vaccinate medical, emergency, transport personnel ahead of time so that a release of smallpox by terroists wouldn't completely shut down the economy.

[Judith Anne]

This is amazing, and if it holds up under trials, very good news.

[Paleo Conservative]

Smallpox threads on Free Republic