Vical Updates Herpes Simplex Vaccine Development at ASGCT Conference

Vical Incorporated VICL today announced that results from multiple animal studies with the company's Vaxfectin®-formulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) demonstrate proof of concept supporting the company's decision in early 2012 to advance toward clinical testing, which is expected to begin in 2013. Results from completed prophylactic and therapeutic studies in mice and therapeutic studies in guinea pigs included: Prophylactic pDNA vaccines encoding HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD) alone or encoding gD and the HSV-2 tegument proteins UL46 and UL47 provided complete protection from primary and recurrent disease. Both prophylactic vaccines significantly reduced viral replication at the primary genital infection site. Both prophylactic vaccines significantly reduced detectable HSV-2 infection at the dorsal root ganglia latent site. The therapeutic pDNA vaccine encoding gD, UL46 and UL47 significantly reduced the frequency of genital lesion outbreaks in animals with pre-established HSV-2 infections. The therapeutic vaccine significantly reduced the frequency of genital viral shedding. Sean M. Sullivan, Ph.D., Vical's Executive Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is scheduled to present at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 16, at the 15th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, (Philadelphia – May 16-19). Dr. Sullivan's presentation, "Development of Vaxfectin®-formulated HSV-2 Plasmid DNA Vaccines for Prophylactic and Therapeutic Applications," summarizes the previously reported animal study data supporting the advance to human testing.