euro adhoc: Intercell AG
Joint Ventures/Cooperation/Collaboration
Alliance
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on research and
development of a novel Pneumococcus vaccine
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
20.10.2005
Vienna, Austria, October 20, 2005 - Vaccine Company Intercell AG (VSE, "ICLL") reports significant pre-clinical progress for its protein-based Pneumococcus vaccine as one of its next lead vaccine candidates and entered today into an alliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, US for further development in this field. There is a high unmet medical need for a novel and safe vaccine especially in the elderly population. The currently approved vaccine against S. pneumoniae only partially covers the 90 different S. pneumonia serotypes. With the new vaccine, Intercell is aiming to prevent infection by all serotypes.
S. pneumoniae affects adults and children leading to upper and lower respiratory infections (pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, bacteraemia) or even death. With 3.6 million deaths worldwide each year, acute respiratory infections like pneumonia and influenza belong to the most dangerous infectious diseases (WHO, 2001). CDC estimates that S. pneumoniae causes 175,000 hospitalizations with 38,000 cases of severe infections, including bloodstream infections and meningitis, in the United States each year. In developing countries it is one of the leading causes of death, one in every 10 deaths in young children is attributable to this infection. Moreover, more than 10 million cases of middle ear infections occur annually in young children in the US and Europe.
About Intercell AG: Intercell AG is a fast growing biotechnology company focusing on the design and development of novel vaccines for prevention and treatment of diseases with substantial unaddressed medical need. The Companys unique position is based on the combination of antigens and immunizers (adjuvants) derived from its proprietary technology platforms and its in-house GMP manufacturing facilities. Intercells technology has been endorsed by collaborative agreements with a number of global pharmaceutical companies, including sanofi pasteur, Merck&Co., Inc., SciGen Ltd. and the Statens Serum Institut. The Company has a broad development pipeline with a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis in Phase III, a vaccine for Hepatitis C undergoing Phase II trials, and five products focused on infectious diseases in the pre-clinical phase. Intercell is listed on the Vienna stock exchange under the symbol "ICLL". For more information please visit: www.intercell.com
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Intercell AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Intercell AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Intercell AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
end of announcement euro adhoc 20.10.2005 07:30:00
Further inquiry note:
Intercell AG
Mag. Katharina Wieser
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel. +43 1 20620-303
kwieser@intercell.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN:
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market