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New trial of HIV/AIDS vaccine incorporates Cobra technology
Keele, UK, 18th
February 2005 - Cobra
Biomanufacturing Plc (AIM: CBF), the international
manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, today announces that its proprietary DNA
system has begun clinical evaluation as part of a new HIV/AIDS vaccine
clinical trial funded by the European Union.
The Phase I trial is conducted by a consortium (Eurovacc) of organisations
including Cobra and will be carried out initially in the UK and Switzerland.
The AIDS vaccine involves an initial injection with DNA, designed with the
participation of Cobra and using Cobra’s proprietary ORT® DNA backbone and
manufacturing technology.
The initial dose is then followed by a booster dose with a genetically
engineered pox virus. The DNA-HIV-C vaccine was developed by Professors Hans
Wolf and Ralf Wagner at the University of Regensburg based on a representative
Chinese subtype C isolate CN54 jointly developed with Professor Yiming Shao
from the CDC Beijing, and is designed to combat strains of HIV/AIDS prevalent
in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
About Cobra Biomanufacturing
Plc:
Cobra Biomanufacturing is a leading international manufacturer of
biopharmaceuticals to the lifescience industry.
Founded in 1993, Cobra has unrivalled capabilities in DNA, virus and
protein contract manufacture. It was the first company dedicated to GMP
(“Good Manufacturing Practice”) standard gene manufacture in Europe, with
specific expertise in DNA medicines. This revenue generating business is
underpinned by a range of unique, patented technologies, the most advanced of
which are ORT®. ORT® is a unique technology which avoids the use of
antibiotics / antibiotic resistant genes making the DNA medicines
incorporating this technology potentially safer and more effective.
Cobra floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock
Exchange in July 2002, raising approximately £7 million.
About EuroVacc:
The European Vaccine Effort against HIV/AIDS network, funded by the European Union under the 5th Framework Programme, involves 21 leading research laboratories as well as pharmaceutical companies and biotech companies in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The goal of this network is to develop safe and effective preventive vaccines against HIV/AIDS. This group has been working together for more than five years, and has developed a pipeline of potential vaccines.
The EuroVacc Foundation, a non profit organization, was created in 2002 as an
evolution of the network. The EuroVacc Foundation aims at facilitating
European collaboration in vaccine development, coordinating European efforts
and raising funds for fundamental and clinical research so as to accelerate
the development of a safe and effective vaccine against HIV infection. The
Foundation also promotes educational and training programmes relevant to
vaccine development worldwide. EuroVacc Foundation is the sponsor of the
trial.
DNA vaccines:
A new type of vaccine where
genetically engineered DNA is injected into the patient. At the site of
injection, the patient’s cells synthesize fragments of HIV proteins directed
by the DNA vaccine. Such foreign proteins trigger a powerful immune response
against the native virus. The advantage of this approach is that the immune
response can be focussed and directed to those parts of the virus which are
essential for replication of the virus (to inhibit growth of the virus) and
those parts which are not highly mutable .
For further information please contact:
David Thatcher
Chief Executive Officer Cobra Biomanufacturing
Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 714181
Tim Anderson/Mark Court/Rebecca Skye Dietrich
Buchanan Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 207 466 5000
Eileen Paul
Northbank Communications
Tel: +44 (0)1260 296500
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