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Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc. announced today that researchers at the University of New Mexico have begun evaluation of the efficacy of the JuvImmuneTM immunostimulant platform against Anthrax and Small Pox infection models. This novel technology is capable of rapidly activating the innate immune response for the production of different cytokines including interferons (alpha, beta & gamma) as well as IL-12 and TNF-alpha. These cytokines are the first-line of defense against infectious agents and are critical for induction of subsequent immune responses. Preclinical results from rodent, canine and non-human primate studies have demonstrated substantial amplification of immune responses by the JuvImmuneTM immunostimulant. In addition, the testing will determine the efficacy of the JuvaVaxTM vaccine platform containing disease-specific antigens as a potential oral vaccine against Anthrax. JuvaVaxTM vaccines have demonstrated significant induction of both humoral (antibody) and cellular (cytotoxic T lymphocytes) antigen-specific immune responses. These balanced immune responses are essential for preventing and/or reducing the severity of bacterial and viral infections. This testing is sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). "We are pleased that DARPA is interested in evaluating the Juvaris immunostimulant and vaccine technologies. We believe that these products have significant military and civilian applications," said Martin D. Cleary, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Juvaris. "In the case of bioterrorism or bioweapons defense, traditional approaches such as avoidance, disinfection, and antimicrobial drug prophylaxis may not be sufficient to prevent widespread physical and economic injury. Juvaris' therapeutic vaccine platform and products, which will emerge from this technology, will augment more traditional approaches to defend against infectious diseases." About Juvaris Juvaris BioTherapeutics was created in 2002 to develop an immunotherapeutic product platform for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer using lipid-DNA complexes. Cationic lipids are formulated with non-coding DNA (plasmid) to create JuvImmuneTM, a single lipid-DNA complex, which as an immunostimulation product will have utility in a number of non-antigen immunotherapeutic applications. The DNA in these complexes does not code for protein, but rather, through a combined synergistic effect with lipids, strongly stimulates immune responses. The JuvImmuneTM product has been shown to be at least 50-times more potent at triggering innate immune activation and interferon release than current immune stimulants. Juvaris was recently issued Patent No. 6,693,086 titled "Systemic Immune Activation Method Using Nucleic Acid-Lipid Complexes" providing broad intellectual property coverage for the JuvImmuneTM technology. When combined with disease-specific antigens, the technology creates JuvaVaxTM vaccines capable of activating substantial antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses, particularly induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Immunological responses elicited by the lipid-DNA complexes have been successfully demonstrated in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings in a variety of mammals including rodents, rabbits, cats, dogs and non-human primates. This technology provides the opportunity to develop many disease-specific vaccine products, for which there are significant unmet medical needs. Over the past six months, the Company has announced collaborations or investigational studies with Cell Genesys, SomaGenics, the University of California-San Francisco, Penn State University, and now the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Company encourage investment and partnering inquiries and can be reached at their websites @ www.juvaris.com. Company Contact: |