Dynavax and AstraZeneca Agree to Conduct Toxicology Studies for TLR-9 Agonist for Asthma

Dynavax TechnologiesCorporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) and AstraZeneca announced today theirdecision to advance AZD1419, a proprietary second-generation TLR-9agonist for asthma, into IND-enabling preclinical toxicology studies.These toxicology studies are scheduled to be the first module of workperformed by Dynavax under the recently amended collaborationagreement for the clinical development of AZD1419. Developmentexpenses will be fully funded by AstraZeneca, and Dynavax willreceive payment of $2.6 million to begin the studies.