VGX Animal Health

Business Description

In early 2007, VGX™ Animal Health acquired the portfolio of DNA based therapies of ADViSYS, which was originally developed for animal health. With over a decade of experience, VGX Animal Health has positioned itself to lead the animal health industry.

The current portfolio of intellectual property and technology is the evolution of work initiated in the Baylor College of Medicine Laboratory of Dr. Robert Schwartz and Dr. Ruxandra Draghia. Following initial studies at Baylor the technology was transferred to a Baylor College of Medicine Technology (BCMT) start-up company named Applied Veterinary Systems, Inc. which was renamed ADViSYS Inc. in 2001.

The mission since inception has been to develop and commercialize animal applications for our proprietary plasmid-based growth hormone releasing hormone technology, utlilizing VGX Pharmaceuticals' delivery device (CELLECTRA^® electroporator).

Technology Description

Since 1997, the company has successfully developed and tested this unique technology, demonstrating dramatic improvements in health and quality of life in multiple species of animals. In several large scale trials, proprietary injectable plasmid-based products have been shown to significantly improve the health status and immunity of pigs and cattle with only a single dose. This new technology has also shown the potential to increase life expectancy, decrease anemia, and improve the quality of life of cancer-afflicted dogs undergoing radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

VGX™ Animal Health has developed a new biopotential enhancement technology platform that allows the company to leverage applications discovered out of one species across multiple markets. The VGX Animal Health advantage is the result of leading-edge technology on multiple fronts.

Intellectual Property Description

	Proprietary Plasmid Expression Vector Some of our plasmid systems contain muscle-specific elements that drive the expression of GHRH, while others encode for different intracellular or secreted proteins and are under the control of ubiquitous or tissue-specific promoters. Our library of novel GHRH analogs and promoters provides a rich pipeline, and has given the VGX Animal Health team a broad range of experience in optimizing expression of secreted proteins.
	CELLECTRA^® Constant Current Electroporation Device The company and VGX Pharmaceuticals have developed proprietary technology for delivery of plasmids or DNA vaccines into cells in vivo. This unique technology optimizes plasmid uptake and subsequent expression. When plasmids with historically low expression levels are delivered with our device, clinically effective results have been achieved in multiple animal species including rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses and non-human primates.
	Plasmid Production Process VGX™ Animal Health has developed a proprietary plasmid manufacturing scheme with process advantages that make it cost effective and scaleable. Our process does not use any animal-derived products, carcinogens, organics or flammables and is therefore safe and acceptable to all regulatory agencies.

VGX™ Animal Health is vertically integrated with the rights necessary to develop, manufacture, market, and protect our technologies. An intellectual property portfolio of more than 40 issued and pending US patent applications and numerous international patents and applications enhances an exclusive technology license from Baylor College of Medicine.

Regulatory Issues

VGX™ Animal Health technology claims for therapeutic use in companion animals will be subject to FDA review and approval. Claims for enhanced health status and immunity in animals will be subject to USDA review. Use permits and approvals in other countries will be regulated and reviewed by similar regulatory agencies.

Market Size

This new technology developed by VGX Animal Health has many potential applications for food and companion animals. Potential target markets in the U.S. include millions of pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, and exotic animals.

Next Major Milestones

	Pursue international and domestic regulatory approvals for swine, dairy and beef applications.
	Pursue partnership with Big Pharma to complete FDA cancer-associated anemia pivotal clinical trial in dogs.
	Identify partner(s) for advancing all Animal Health applications of GHRH plasmid and EKD technologies.