Vical awarded $2.6 million grant to study avian flu vaccine

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., June 7 - Vical, Inc. said the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), after reviewing recently reported preclinical data from the company's avian influenza DNA vaccine program, has given the company accelerated access to $2.6 million in funding for further development of the vaccine under a grant awarded to Vical in September 2005.

Vical said the funds will be used to complete preclinical development of the vaccine and file an Investigational New Drug application with the Food and Drug Administration, which would allow the start of a phase 1 safety trial in human volunteers.

The company is seeking additional funding to support phase 1 human testing, according to a news release.

"One significant strength of our DNA technology is the speed with which we can develop a vaccine product concept, establish preclinical efficacy and then advance to IND filing. Our Vaxfectin-formulated DNA flu vaccines have performed remarkably well in animal challenge studies, and this accelerated access to funding allows us to move forward ahead of our original schedule, which is quite important given the imminent threat posed by pandemic influenza," chief scientific officer David C. Kaslow said in the release.

San Diego-based Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA-delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases.

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