LigoCyte Presents Data Showing Protection From Improved Anthrax Vaccine At The ASM Biodefense Meeting

BOZEMAN, Mont., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals announced that data is being presented today at the American Society for Microbiology Biodefense meeting describing a new, improved anthrax vaccine. The LigoCyte vaccine was developed with funding from the Department of Defense.

"LigoCyte's new vaccine completely protected rabbits from exposure to inhaled anthrax," said Dr. Charles Richardson, the company's VP of Research and Development. "In addition to raising an immune response against anthrax toxin, this vaccine targets the infectious process itself."

The vaccine is successful in this two-pronged approach because it incorporates two different antigens. The first, recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) is the same anthrax toxin protein that is currently being studied in human clinical trials. In anthrax disease, toxin produced as a byproduct of the infection is one of the primary causes of death. The second antigen is from the bacterial capsule, which helps the body recognize the growing form of anthrax and stops the infection before it can proceed to the toxin-producing stage. In the LigoCyte study, performed at Battelle Memorial Institute, rabbits who raised immune responses to only the anthrax toxin survived, but became ill during the course of the study. Rabbits receiving the new multivalent vaccine survived without becoming ill at all, demonstrating control of the infectious process. "We are especially pleased with the immune responses after only one immunization," said Dr. Susan Wimer-Mackin, Director of Molecular Biology at LigoCyte. "An effective, single dose vaccine would be a great advancement in the field."

LigoCyte's vaccine is a dry powder formulation which offers long-term stability under improved storage conditions. It is administered intranasally, which helps to stimulate a better response in mucosal tissues such as the lung, where anthrax infections begin following inhalation of the bacterial spores. This dry powder approach can also be applied to other vaccines for respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases, including LigoCyte's Norovirus vaccine program in which the company plans to protect against viral gastroenteritis. Norovirus (also known as the "stomach flu" or "cruise ship disease") is a critical problem in nursing homes and hospitals, as well as military installations worldwide. LigoCyte is planning a meeting with the FDA this year in support of the clinical evaluation of the intranasal Norovirus vaccine.

About LigoCyte

LigoCyte, established in 1998, has committed its expertise in mucosal immunology to the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs and vaccines for the prevention of inflammatory and infectious diseases. LigoCyte's world-class scientists and leading-edge technologies are focused on the clinical development of lead candidates to establish strategic relationships within the pharmaceutical industry. For additional information on LigoCyte, please visit our website at http://www.ligocyte.com/.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the levels and timing of payments under LigoCyte's collaborative agreements, uncertainties relating to LigoCyte's ability to successfully discover, develop, test, and secure regulatory approval of and finance any of its current or future drug candidates, uncertainties about LigoCyte's ability to obtain new corporate collaborations on satisfactory terms, and the risk that LigoCyte or its partners will not be able to successfully commercialize the products developed from LigoCyte's research and development. The above-referenced vaccine development work is supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Contract No. DAMD17-01-C-0040. The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of LigoCyte and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision unless so designated by other documentation. In conducting research using animals, the investigator(s) adhered to the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals," prepared by the Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council (NIH Publication No. 86-23, Revised 1985). In conducting work involving the use of recombinant DNA the investigator (s) adhered to the Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules; Notice, Federal Register, July 5, 1994, Volume 59, Number 127.

CONTACT: Robert Goodwin, Ph.D., Executive VP, COO of LigoCytePharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-406-585-2733, robert.goodwin@ligocyte.com

Web site: http://www.ligocyte.com/