FRANKLIN, Mass., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sontra Medical Corporation announced today that is has received a Phase 1 U.S. Army SBIR $70,000 grant that will be used to investigate the transdermal delivery of a dengue vaccine with the SonoPrep skin permeation device. The U.S. Army is developing a vaccine for the dengue pandemic which is a mosquito- born viral disease found in tropical regions of the world afflicting tens of millions of people and hospitalizing 500,000 persons, mostly children.
Pre-clinical studies under this Phase 1 program will be conducted over a six month period ending in May 2006. At the Army’s option, the program could be extended through a Phase 2 Army SBIIR award to be granted in October 2006, which would result in additional award of approximately $800,000 for funding human clinical studies.
“We believe that the immune response for vaccines can be optimized through topical delivery with SonoPrep and are excited to be working with world renowned immunology experts at the U.S. Army,” stated Thomas W. Davison, PhD, Sontra’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Sontra’s SonoPrep ultrasonic skin permeation device employs low frequency ultrasound to penetrate the skin’s outermost layer, the stratum corneum. This simple and fast (average 15 second) treatment creates an imperceptible window through the skin that enables molecules to pass through with 100 times greater efficiency than intact skin. SonoPrep has the potential to deliver vaccines to the viable epidermis to activate the Langerhan cells, which invoke a powerful immune response.
About Sontra Medical Corporation (http://www.sontra.com)
Sontra Medical Corporation is a technology leader in transdermal science. Sontra’s SonoPrep ultrasound-mediated skin permeation technology combined with technical competencies in transdermal drug formulation, delivery systems and biosensors is creating a new paradigm in transdermal drug delivery and diagnosis. The SonoPrep technology is being developed for several billion dollar market opportunities, including continuous glucose monitoring and the transdermal delivery of large molecule drugs and vaccines. Sontra is currently marketing the SonoPrep device and procedure tray for use with topical lidocaine to achieve rapid (within five minutes) skin anesthesia.
Investor Relations Contact: Sean Moran, Chief Financial Officer 508-530-0334
SonoPrep is a registered trademark of Sontra Medical Corporation. All other company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a variety of subjects including, for example, the expected benefits and efficacy of the SonoPrep device in connection with diagnostics, vaccine delivery, glucose monitoring and transdermal drug delivery, the expected results of the research collaboration with the U.S. Army and ability to deliver vaccines topically; the expected market opportunities, distribution and market acceptance of the SonoPrep device and technology, the expected size of the markets for the SonoPrep device and technology, and Sontra’s business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward- looking statements: adverse results in research collaborations, product development, clinical trials, product evaluations, commercialization efforts, product distribution and market acceptance; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products resulting from development efforts; difficulties or delays associated with sources of regulatory-approved transdermal drugs and vaccines; failure to obtain and maintain patent protection for discoveries; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic partners and third- party distributors to develop, commercialize, market and sell products based on our work; the commercial success of products; and the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization, distribution and marketing activities. For detailed information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Sontra’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sontra’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB. Forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us.
Sontra Medical Corporation
CONTACT: Sean Moran, Chief Financial Officer of Sontra MedicalCorporation, +1-508-530-0334
Web site: http://www.sontra.com//
