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J. Leighton Read, M.D.
Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D.
Aviron
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For immediate release
AVIRON ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF PHASE I CLINICAL TRIAL OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS VACCINE
Mountain View, CA - December 3, 1997- Aviron (NASDAQ: AVIR) announced today, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Biologicals of Rixensart, Belgium, the start of a Phase I clinical trial of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). The candidate vaccine approach combines AvironÃs antigen with SB proprietary adjuvant technology. The trial is a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of two formulations of intramuscularly injected vaccines in healthy young adults and is being conducted at University Hospital of Liege.
"We are very pleased to see our EBV program move into the human testing stage of development. This marks AvironÃs third program in clinical trials, and a milestone in our collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, one of the worldÃs leading vaccine companies" commented J. Leighton Read, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aviron. "Since EBV infects most people at some point in their lifetime, an effective vaccine could have a major impact on reducing illnesses such as infectious mononucleosis and certain types of cancers and lymphomas."
Epstein-Barr virus belongs to the herpes virus family and is the cause of infectious mononucleosis, which is estimated to affect over a quarter million people annually in Europe and the United States, most of whom are young adults. Sore throat and swollen neck glands are followed by a period of fatigue and lethargy which can last for weeks or even months, and dramatic enlargement of the liver and spleen are also fairly common. While the disease usually runs its course without much medical intervention, the chronicity of infectious mononucleosis can be a serious problem for high school and college students or working adults.
The candidate vaccine is based on the single surface antigen responsible for most of the neutralizing antibodies stimulated by EBV infection.
Aviron is an emerging biopharmaceutical company based in Mountain View, California whose strategy is to focus on the prevention of disease. The CompanyÃs goal is to develop vaccines to prevent a wide range of viral infections that affect the general population, providing a cost-effective means of addressing a number of major diseases. The majority of the CompanyÃs products under development are live vaccines against viral infections, including influenza, parainfluenza (PIV-3), cytomegalovirus (CMV), genital herpes (HSV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
SmithKline Beecham, one of the worldÃs leading healthcare companies, discovers, develops, manufactures and markets human pharmaceuticals, health-related consumer products and clinical laboratory testing services. SmithKline Beecham Biologicals is located in Rixensart, Belgium, and is the center of all SBÃs activities in the field of vaccine research, development and production. SB Biologicals produces 800 million doses of vaccines per year. Every second, over 25 doses of SB Bio vaccines are distributed around the world.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested here. Additional information concerning factors that could cause such a difference is contained in AvironÃs Prospectus dated August 12, 1997.
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