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Lipoxen receives grant to research improved HIV vaccine delivery

13 June 2008

London, UK, 13 June 2008 – Lipoxen PLC (AIM:LPX), a bio-pharmaceutical company specialising in the development of high value differentiated biologicals, vaccines and oncology drugs, announces today that the Company has received a grant to conduct research into enhancing the human antibody response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine candidates. Funding for the project is provided by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), an organization whose mission is to ensure the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world.  

The objective of the project is to create a formulation of HIV envelope protein gp140 and HIV DNA in liposomes that gives rise to the induction of antibodies, which protect against infection of human cells challenged with primary isolates of HIV in vitro. The research will utilise Lipoxen’s proprietary ImuXen^® technology that is based on using liposomes to administer vaccines. The vaccine components (antigens and adjuvants) are protected by a liposomal vesicle that enhances their delivery to the immune system and leads to immune responses which are much stronger and more rapid than those observed with vaccines delivered by conventional means. The liposomal formulations are also well known to minimise the side effects of vaccination as a result of the containment and slow release of the active materials.

This month marks the 25^th anniversary since HIV was discovered as the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and since then over 60 million people have been infected with the virus and over 25 million people have died.  Since 1983, progress has been made in the search for an AIDS vaccine, but to date, only two vaccine candidates have completed late-stage human testing, and both of these vaccine candidates have failed.  There are still many scientific questions that continue to puzzle AIDS vaccine researchers. In an effort to address these questions and bring much-needed breakthroughs to the AIDS vaccine field, AIDS vaccine experts are actively pursuing new and innovative approaches from beyond traditional research avenues. IAVI’s Innovation Fund, through which Lipoxen has received its grant, is one mechanism aimed at bringing pioneering ideas to the AIDS vaccine field. Lipoxen has received the third Innovation Fund grant that IAVI has made to date. Under the terms of the agreement, the novel delivery systems that Lipoxen and IAVI develop together through the project will be jointly owned by both parties.

M. Scott Maguire, CEO of Lipoxen, said:

'We are delighted that the improved delivery and vaccine effectiveness offered by our ImuXen technology has been recognised by IAVI. From experience with other pathogens, we know that a vaccine is the best way to stop a virus. The intellectual property portfolio that Lipoxen is continually developing in the vaccine delivery area is enabling us to carve out an important position in the development of novel vaccines that address some of the world's most infectious diseases and may also help us to bring HIV's 25 year story to an end."

Michelle Dees, Director of IAVI’s Innovation Fund, said:

“At IAVI we strive to access new technologies that hold future promise for ultimately bringing an HIV vaccine to market. We are delighted to now be working with Lipoxen. If successful, technologies like these could significantly transform the HIV vaccine pipeline and speed the discovery of an eventual AIDS vaccine.”

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