Company Focusing Resources on Infectious Disease Vaccine Programs
Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:00 a.m. ET
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I August 12, 2013 I Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced top-line results from a Phase 3 trial of Allovectin® (velimogene aliplasmid), an investigational intratumoral cancer immunotherapy, in patients with metastatic melanoma. The 390-subject trial failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement vs. first-line chemotherapy for either the primary endpoint of objective response rate at 24 weeks or more after randomization or the secondary endpoint of overall survival. Trial data will be further analyzed and detailed results will be submitted for publication.
“We are disappointed that the trial did not meet either the primary or secondary efficacy endpoints, even though we believe it was well-designed and well-executed,” said Vijay B. Samant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vical. “Based on this outcome, we are terminating the Allovectin® program and focusing our resources on our infectious disease vaccine programs.” Mr. Samant added, “We would like to recognize all of the patients and their families, trial investigators and employees who participated in the conduct of this trial and thank them for their efforts.”
Continuing Programs
“In the coming weeks, we will make the necessary changes to focus resources on our infectious disease vaccine programs and reduce expenses to conserve cash,” said Mr. Samant. The company reported cash and investments of $70 million at June 30, 2013, which it believes is adequate for its anticipated needs at least through the end of 2014. Vical has multiple independent and collaborative infectious disease vaccine programs:
- Astellas Pharma Inc. initiated a multinational 500-patient Phase 3 trial of ASP0113, Vical’s investigational therapeutic vaccine designed to control cytomegalovirus (CMV) in transplant recipients, for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients in June and expects to initiate a Phase 2 trial of ASP0113 for solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients later this year.
- The company is planning to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its Vaxfectin®-formulated therapeutic vaccine against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) before the end of 2013.
- The company’s Vaxfectin®-formulated CyMVectin™ prophylactic vaccine, designed to prevent CMV infection before and during pregnancy, has completed preclinical development and has an allowed investigational new drug application (IND). Vical is seeking a partner for further development.
- Vical has licensed its proprietary Vaxfectin® adjuvant to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for use in the production of antibodies, and to Cyvax, Inc., a privately held vaccine development company, for use in malaria vaccines. The company is pursuing additional licensing opportunities for Vaxfectin®.
- Two of the company’s licensees have products approved for use in animal health applications:
- In 2005, Vical’s licensee Aqua Health, a subsidiary of Novartis Animal Health, received Canadian approval to market its proprietary product, Apex®-IHN, a DNA vaccine to protect farm-raised salmon against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV).
- In 2009, Vical’s licensee Merial, now a subsidiary of Sanofi, received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell a therapeutic DNA vaccine, ONCEPT®, designed to aid in extending the survival time of dogs with oral melanoma.
Conference Call
Vical will conduct a conference call and webcast today, August 12, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the trial results and the company’s path forward with invited participants. The call and webcast are open on a listen-only basis to any interested parties. To listen to the conference call, dial in approximately ten minutes before the scheduled call to (913) 312-0657 (preferred) or (888) 233-8128 (toll-free) and reference confirmation code 7850968. A replay of the call will be available for 48 hours beginning about two hours after the call. To listen to the replay, dial (719) 457-0820 (preferred) or (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) and enter replay passcode 7850968. The call also will be available live and archived through the events page at www.vical.com. For further information, contact Vical’s Investor Relations department by phone at (858) 646-1127 or by e-mail at ir@vical.com.
About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company’s DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.
SOURCE: Vical
Post Views: 279
Company Focusing Resources on Infectious Disease Vaccine Programs
Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:00 a.m. ET
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I August 12, 2013 I Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced top-line results from a Phase 3 trial of Allovectin® (velimogene aliplasmid), an investigational intratumoral cancer immunotherapy, in patients with metastatic melanoma. The 390-subject trial failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement vs. first-line chemotherapy for either the primary endpoint of objective response rate at 24 weeks or more after randomization or the secondary endpoint of overall survival. Trial data will be further analyzed and detailed results will be submitted for publication.
“We are disappointed that the trial did not meet either the primary or secondary efficacy endpoints, even though we believe it was well-designed and well-executed,” said Vijay B. Samant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vical. “Based on this outcome, we are terminating the Allovectin® program and focusing our resources on our infectious disease vaccine programs.” Mr. Samant added, “We would like to recognize all of the patients and their families, trial investigators and employees who participated in the conduct of this trial and thank them for their efforts.”
Continuing Programs
“In the coming weeks, we will make the necessary changes to focus resources on our infectious disease vaccine programs and reduce expenses to conserve cash,” said Mr. Samant. The company reported cash and investments of $70 million at June 30, 2013, which it believes is adequate for its anticipated needs at least through the end of 2014. Vical has multiple independent and collaborative infectious disease vaccine programs:
- Astellas Pharma Inc. initiated a multinational 500-patient Phase 3 trial of ASP0113, Vical’s investigational therapeutic vaccine designed to control cytomegalovirus (CMV) in transplant recipients, for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients in June and expects to initiate a Phase 2 trial of ASP0113 for solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients later this year.
- The company is planning to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its Vaxfectin®-formulated therapeutic vaccine against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) before the end of 2013.
- The company’s Vaxfectin®-formulated CyMVectin™ prophylactic vaccine, designed to prevent CMV infection before and during pregnancy, has completed preclinical development and has an allowed investigational new drug application (IND). Vical is seeking a partner for further development.
- Vical has licensed its proprietary Vaxfectin® adjuvant to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for use in the production of antibodies, and to Cyvax, Inc., a privately held vaccine development company, for use in malaria vaccines. The company is pursuing additional licensing opportunities for Vaxfectin®.
- Two of the company’s licensees have products approved for use in animal health applications:
- In 2005, Vical’s licensee Aqua Health, a subsidiary of Novartis Animal Health, received Canadian approval to market its proprietary product, Apex®-IHN, a DNA vaccine to protect farm-raised salmon against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV).
- In 2009, Vical’s licensee Merial, now a subsidiary of Sanofi, received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell a therapeutic DNA vaccine, ONCEPT®, designed to aid in extending the survival time of dogs with oral melanoma.
Conference Call
Vical will conduct a conference call and webcast today, August 12, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the trial results and the company’s path forward with invited participants. The call and webcast are open on a listen-only basis to any interested parties. To listen to the conference call, dial in approximately ten minutes before the scheduled call to (913) 312-0657 (preferred) or (888) 233-8128 (toll-free) and reference confirmation code 7850968. A replay of the call will be available for 48 hours beginning about two hours after the call. To listen to the replay, dial (719) 457-0820 (preferred) or (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) and enter replay passcode 7850968. The call also will be available live and archived through the events page at www.vical.com. For further information, contact Vical’s Investor Relations department by phone at (858) 646-1127 or by e-mail at ir@vical.com.
About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company’s DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.
SOURCE: Vical
Post Views: 279
