CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Genocea Biosciences Inc., a clinical-stage company developing T cell vaccines to prevent and treat infectious diseases, announced today that its abstract describing an interim analysis of data from a Phase 1/2a clinical study of its lead candidate, GEN-003, has been selected as a late-breaking oral presentation at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC 2013). GEN-003 is a first-in-class, investigational protein subunit vaccine for patients with moderate-to-severe herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection.
The abstract is entitled “Novel Therapeutic Vaccine for Genital Herpes Reduces Genital HSV-2 Shedding.” Dr. Anna Wald, the Principal Investigator on the study, will present the detailed interim data during a session on Vaccine Development and Efficacy on September 12 in Denver, Colorado.
“We are pleased that ICAAC has chosen to accept our abstract given the limited number of late-breaking submissions that are selected, and believe that this acceptance reflects the quality of the study to be presented and the need for new therapeutic approaches to the HSV-2 epidemic,” said Chip Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genocea.
The following abstract will be presented:
Presentation number G-1458a, “Novel Therapeutic Vaccine for Genital Herpes Reduces Genital HSV-2 Shedding,” 3:00 5:30 p.m. MDT, September 12, 2013, Meeting Room 503.
About GEN-003
GEN-003 is a first-in-class T cell vaccine intended to reduce the viral shedding and frequency and severity of outbreaks and transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). GEN-003 is designed to induce a balanced and durable B cell (antibody) and T cell immune response.
GEN-003 includes fragments of ICP4 and gD2 antigens, as well as the proprietary adjuvant, Matrix-M, licensed from Isconova AB. The adjuvant is a novel saponin-derived product that has demonstrated a balanced B and T cell immunostimulatory profile in previous clinical studies.
There is currently no vaccine approved to prevent or treat HSV-2. For more information about clinical studies for GEN-003 please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. For more information about GEN-003, please visit http://www.genocea.com/pipeline/hsv-2-faq.html.
About HSV-2
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the most common cause of genital herpes, is a sexually transmitted disease that is estimated to infect more than 500 million people worldwide, and one out of six people aged 14 to 49. In the U.S., an estimated 50-60 million people are affected. HSV-2 infection can cause recurring, painful genital sores and, due to the stigma associated with this disease, can impact patients’ ability to form and maintain relationships, resulting in considerable psychological distress in patients. No vaccine is currently approved to prevent or treat the disease.
About Genocea Biosciences
Genocea Biosciences is harnessing the power of T cell immunity to develop the next generation of vaccines. T cells are increasingly recognized as a critical element of a protective immune response to a wide range of infectious disease pathogens, but are difficult to target using traditional vaccine discovery methods. Genocea is uniquely able to identify protective T cell antigens in humans exposed to a pathogen using ATLAS, its proprietary technology platform that mimics the human immune response in the laboratory, potentially improving the effectiveness of vaccine candidates and drastically reducing the time needed to create them. Genocea’s pipeline of novel T cell vaccines includes GEN-003 for HSV-2 therapy, GEN-004, a protein vaccine directed at pneumococcus that is expected to enter the clinic in the fourth quarter of 2013, and earlier-stage programs in chlamydia, HSV-2 prophylaxis and malaria.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.genocea.com.
About Isconova
Isconova AB is a leading international vaccine adjuvant company headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden. With deep knowledge of vaccine systems, Isconova is developing vaccines independently and with partners in both the human and veterinary markets. Isconova is a subsidiary of Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ “NVAX”). For more information on Isconova: www.isconova.com.
For information contact:
Jessica Rowlands
202-729-4089
jessica.rowlands@fkhealth.com
For investor relations:
Bob Farrell
bob.farrell@genocea.com
617-876-8261
SOURCE Genocea Biosciences Inc.
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