EANS-Adhoc: Intercell AG / Intercell starts a Phase I clinical trial for a new Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine

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Research & Development

07.04.2009

» Initiation of a first-in-man Phase I clinical trial in healthy
subjects » Study aims to obtain safety and immunogenicity data of
this new vaccine candidate » Initial results expected in Q4 2009 »
Development of Intercell's Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine supported
by PATH

Vienna (Austria), April 7, 2009 - Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) announced
today that a Phase I clinical trial with the company's vaccine
candidate IC47 to prevent disease caused by the bacterium
Streptococcus pneumoniae has started.

Intercell's vaccine candidate is a recombinant subunit vaccine
consisting of three conserved surface proteins from Streptococcus
pneumoniae. Two of these proteins were discovered using Intercell's
proprietary Antigen Identification Program (AIP®), while the third
was in-licensed from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).

This Phase I trial is a first-in-man study with a focus to obtain
safety and immunogenicity data in a small population of healthy
adults. Thirty-two subjects will be enrolled in this open-label
study. Two different vaccine concentrations either with or without
the addition of an adjuvant will be tested.

"The initiation of this clinical Phase I trial is an important step
to further strengthen Intercell's leading position in the development
of vaccines against infectious diseases with significant unmet
medical need", commented Intercell's Chief Scientific Officer,
Alexander von Gabain.

Although vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae are available,
they cover only a restricted number of the more than 90 known
serotypes and it is essential to pursue new vaccines for distribution
in countries with the highest medical need for an effective vaccine
against the pathogen. Intercell's novel vaccine candidate is composed
of highly conserved proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae that have
the potential to protect against all serotypes.

The development of Intercell's vaccine to prevent pneumoccocal
disease is supported by PATH - a U.S.-based non-profit organization
that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions that enable
communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health.
Having supported the preclinical studies of the IC47 vaccine, PATH
has now committed another USD 3.6 m for the further clinical
development until Q2 2010, including the Phase I trial. Under the
terms of the collaboration, Intercell will develop the vaccine and
make it available at an affordable cost for children in developing
world countries at greatest need, where Pneumococcus is a major cause
of infant and childhood mortality.

About Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Pneumococcus, is a very common bacterial
infection in both industrialized and developing countries. In
particularly young children and the elderly represent high-risk
populations of developing pneumococcal infections. According to the
WHO, the bacterium kills up to one million children under the age of
five years each year worldwide. It accounts for many Bacterial
Meningitis cases in adults and it is the most common cause of
Bacteraemia, Pneumonia, Meningitis and Otitis media in young
children.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Intercell AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Intercell AG

Lucia Malfent

Head of Corporate Communications

Tel. +43 1 20620-1303

lmalfent@intercell.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN: A0D8HW
Index: ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market