Document date: Wed 30 Apr 2003 Published: Wed 30 Apr 2003 08:51:06 Document No: 236689 Document part: A Market Flag: Y Classification: Progress Report PRIMA BIOMED LTD 2003-04-30 ASX-SIGNAL-G
HOMEX - Perth
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Prima BioMed Ltd (ASX: PRR) today announced preliminary results showing that its experimental DCtag malaria vaccine appears effective as a malaria treatment.
Previously, Prima subsidiary Panvax Ltd reported that immunisation of mice with a DCtag vaccine before they were infected with malaria could protect them from malaria infection. In collaboration with scientists at the Austin Research Institute, Panvax has now demonstrated that the malaria parasite can be eradicated from the majority of mice already infected with malaria. Treatment of infected animals previously focused on using anti-malarial drugs rather than vaccines.
This is a significant finding with substantial commercial potential. The DCtag technology which is a platform with broad potential to enhance immune responses to immunotherapies, including vaccines - has now been shown in laboratory studies to enhance both protection from disease and clearance of an existing infection.
The work has been led by Associate Professor Magda Plebanski, who joined the Austin Research Institute from Oxford University to oversee the development of vaccines and in particular the DCtag project. Results announced last year demonstrated that immunisation with DCtag malaria vaccines was able to protect immunised mice from a lethal dose of the malaria parasite, thereby showing the potential for the development of a vaccine to prevent malaria.
Panvax is currently undertaking additional studies to determine the full extent of this result.
Mr Clark, CEO of Prima Biomed said, "These new results confirm the increasing value of the intellectual property associated with the DCtag project as there is the potential to develop a malaria vaccine using the DCtag technology that will both prevent malaria and treat, potentially eradicating, an established infection. "On a global scale malaria remains of great concern as there is no effective vaccine or treatment for the major forms of the disease. There are currently between 300 and 500 million people infected with the disease each year, of which 1.2 to 2.7 million people will die. There is a huge global effort in place to develop simple and effective treatments for the prevention and control of malaria.
The initial development program to assess the platform potential of the DCtag technology and to develop and commercialise DCtag technology remains on track with other results expected to be released shortly. Panvax is also finalising the terms of a collaborative agreement with another international biotechnology company concerning other applications of the DCtag technology and it is anticipated that the terms of this agreement will be announced shortly. Panvax has previously announced a collaboration in the field of malaria with the Paris-based Institute Pasteur. This collaboration is evaluating additional opportunities to protect against malaria infection. Panvax expects to enter into licensing arrangements and further collaborations for the commercial exploitation of this technology progressively across a range of disease categories.
ABOUT PANVAX LIMITED
Panvax is a subsidiary of Prima BioMed Limited (65% owned). It is focussed on immunotherapy and is developing a platform technology with the potential to boost the immune responses to vaccine and immunotherapy products being developed for both human and animal health. The company is progressing programs in malaria, viral diseases and cancer in order to demonstrate that the DCtag technology is able to induce effective immune responses and protection against disease.
Inquiries: Marcus Clark Chief Executive Officer 03 9854 5700 Rudi Michelson (Monsoon Communications) 03 9620 3333
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