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Prophylactic Staphylococcus aureus subunit vaccine shows promising results |
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20 Dec 2006 |
Intercell AG has been informed by its strategic partner Merck & Co., Inc. that a Phase I study of a recombinant subunit vaccine to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections is progressing with promising results.
VIENNA, Austria | Dec 19, 2006 | Intercell AG (VSE, “ICLL”) has been informed by its strategic partner Merck & Co., Inc. that a Phase I study of a recombinant subunit vaccine to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections is progressing with promising results. The vaccine is based on a conserved protein antigen discovered by Intercell’s Antigen Identification Program (AIP®) and licensed to Merck & Co., Inc. on an exclusive world wide basis in 2003.
“The fact that a vaccine based on our antigen discovery platform has delivered promising data in humans underlines the scientific and commercial potential of Intercell’s technology platforms”, states Alexander von Gabain, CSO of Intercell. “It is our strategy to develop our own vaccine candidates based on our technologies, and also to partner with the best players in the field to create significant value.”
About Staphylococcus aureus and nosocomial infections
Hospital-acquired infections are one of the major causes of death and serious illness worldwide, resulting in an annual burden of more than $20 billion in the developed world. In the United States alone, about two million patients become infected annually while receiving health care in hospitals. The incidence of nosocomial infections is steadily increasing due to medical interventions and most notably due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria circulating in hospitals. S. aureus is the most frequent cause of hospital acquired infections. In addition to bloodstream infections with a mortality rate of up to 35%, infections of bone, heart and other inner organs are leading to serious health complications, death and economic burden. Today, approximately 50% of S. aureus strains isolated in hospitals worldwide are resistant to multiple antibiotics, rendering staphylococcal disease management increasingly difficult and challenging.
SOURCE: Intercell |
