Promising Data Presented on GenVec RSV Program
Protective Immune Responses Generated in Animal Models
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GenVec, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNVC) announced today that data were presented on GenVec's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine program at the International Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symposium, which took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands on December 2-5, 2010. The presentation was given by Barney S. Graham, MD, PhD, Chief, Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory and Chief, Clinical Trials Core, at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In his plenary address, Dr. Graham highlighted work VRC and GenVec are conducting under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
Data presented at the conference demonstrated encouraging preclinical proof-of-concept findings generated in multiple animal models at the NIH and GenVec. Specifically, the data show sustained production of neutralizing antibodies and the lack of immunological responses associated with adverse events linked to prior unsuccessful RSV vaccine approaches.
"These data are promising and show that a vaccine utilizing our technology has significant potential to prevent RSV," stated Jason Gall, PhD, a Senior Director of Research at GenVec and the company's lead RSV scientist. "Currently, there is no approved RSV vaccine and we are excited to be moving toward filling the need for a safe and effective RSV vaccine."
About Respiratory Syncytial Virus
RSV is the single most important viral cause of lower respiratory infections in infants and young children. According to the World Health Organization, nearly all U.S. children have been infected with RSV by two years of age. Although RSV infection usually produces cold-like symptoms, the infection can result in severe lower respiratory tract infection, which causes up to 130,000 pediatric hospitalizations per year in the U.S. RSV also causes repeated infections throughout life, placing the elderly and individuals with compromised cardiac, pulmonary, or immune systems at risk for severe disease. Among the institutionalized elderly, it is estimated there are about 15,000 deaths annually from RSV.
About GenVec
GenVec, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic drugs and vaccines. GenVec uses proprietary drug discovery and development technologies to support a portfolio of product programs that address the prevention and treatment of a number of major diseases. In collaboration with Novartis, GenVec is developing novel treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. GenVec is also evaluating the potential of TNFerade for the treatment of certain cancers and is developing vaccines for infectious diseases including influenza, HIV, malaria, foot-and-mouth disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and HSV-2. Additional information about GenVec is available at www.genvec.com and in the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Statements herein relating to future financial or business performance, conditions or strategies and other financial and business matters, including expectations regarding future milestone payments, royalties, the development of products and the success of the collaboration with Novartis, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. GenVec cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or historical experience include risks and uncertainties, including the failure by GenVec to secure and maintain relationships with collaborators; risks relating to the early stage of GenVec's product candidates under development; uncertainties relating to clinical trials; risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of GenVec's proposed product candidates; dependence on the efforts of third parties; dependence on intellectual property; and risks that we may lack the financial resources and access to capital to fund our operations. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect GenVec's business, financial conditions and results of operations, are contained in GenVec's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and GenVec assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements.
Contact: |
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GenVec, Inc. Douglas J. Swirsky |
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(240) 632-5510 |
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SOURCE GenVec, Inc.
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