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VGX Animal Health announces the commercialization of its LifeTide™ SW 5 GHRH gene therapy product for pigs in Australia
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Woodlands, TX – October 7, 2008 – |
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VGX Animal Health Inc. (VGXAH) and its parent company, VGX Pharmaceuticals (VGXP), announced today the execution of an exclusive Distribution and Marketing Agreement for its LifeTide™ SW 5 GHRH gene therapy product for pigs in Australia with Country Vet Wholesaling Pty Ltd (CVW). Under the Agreement, CVW has the exclusive right to market, promote, sell and distribute the Product in Australia.
LifeTide™ SW 5 is an injectable DNA plasmid encoding for porcine GHRH, and is administered as a once in a lifetime treatment for use in sows of breeding age to increase the number of piglets weaned. Licensing studies completed in Australia demonstrated a significant decrease in perinatal mortality and morbidity, resulting in an increase in sow productivity and the number of pigs weaned per sow. In January 2008, LifeTide™ SW 5 became the world’s first approved DNA therapy for Food Animals. The complete approval can be viewed on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s web site (http://services.apvma.gov.au).
“We are optimistic that the commercialization of our GHRH product for pigs will significantly expand the use of plasmid GHRH delivered by electroporation to other indications, territories, and mammals, including humans,” stated Douglas R. Kern, D.V.M., M.S., Vice President of Business Development.
VGXAH has also submitted an application for approval of LifeTide™ SW 5 in New Zealand, and plans to seek approval in several other countries in South East Asia. In addition, the Company has initiated studies to support regulatory approval of this technology in other major markets, including the United States and China. Furthermore, VGXAH plans to further develop GHRH technology for companion dogs and cats. VGXP is awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to study the treatment of humans with GHRH (VGX-3200).
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About Country Vet Wholesaling
Country Vet Wholesaling, Pty Ltd. (CVW) was founded in 2001 by Australian rural veterinarians in Bendigo in central Victoria. Country Vet is based in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. Supplying products initially to intensive animal industries, Country Vet has expanded into selling products for other species over the last few years to become one of the largest suppliers of animal health products in Australia. More information about CVW can be found at www.countryvet.com.au.
About VGX Pharmaceuticals
VGX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company with small molecule and
biologic product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer,
and inflammatory diseases. The Company's clinical development programs include
PICTOVIR™ for HIV infection, which is in Phase II clinical trials,
PENNVAX™-B for HIV infection, which is in 2 separate Phase I clinical
trials, and VGX-1027 for inflammatory diseases, which is in Phase I clinical
trials. In addition, the Company has filed INDs for VGX-3100, a DNA therapeutic
vaccine for cervical cancer; VGX-3200, a novel DNA therapy that utilizes
GHRH for the treatment of cancer cachexia and anemia; and VGX-3400, a DNA
preventative vaccine for avian influenza. VGX has established a vertically-integrated
DNA Vaccines and Therapies Platform with extensive capabilities including
SynCon™ DNA-based product candidates, the CELLECTRA®
delivery device, and efficient cGMP plasmid manufacturing. Vertical control
over key aspects of product development has enabled the Company to consistently
develop multiple product candidates, from bench-to-IND filing, within 1
year. The product candidates and technology programs are protected by the
Company's extensive global intellectual property portfolio. More information
about VGX can be found at www.vgxp.com.
About VGX Animal Health
VGX Animal Health, Inc. (“VGXAH” or “The Company”)
was formed in 2007 as a majority-owned subsidiary of VGX Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (VGXP) specializing in animal health therapeutics. VGXAH’s products
and technology were initially developed by ADViSYS Inc, which was founded
in 1997 and acquired by VGX Pharmaceuticals in early 2007. VGXAH’s
lead product, LifeTide™ SW 5, was approved in Australia in January
2008. The product is an injectable plasmid encoding for porcine Growth Hormone
Release Hormone (“GHRH”). In addition, the Company has conducted
extensive pre-clinical trials for other applications of its proprietary
plasmid-based GHRH therapy in both food and companion animals. Treatment
of cancer cachexia, anemia, and improved milk production are just a few
of the many potential applications of this technology in animal health.
VGXAH’s product candidates and technology programs are protected by
the Company's extensive global intellectual property portfolio. More information
about VGXAH can be found at www.vgxah.com.
Company Contact:
Doug Kern, DVM, MS
Vice President, Business Development
Tel. 281-296-7300
Fax. 281-296-7333
E-mail: dkern@vgxah.com
www.vgxah.com
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