Published:
Bird Flu Oral Vaccine Licensed by MDM Group
License Agreement for Orally Administered H5N1 Vaccine
MDM Group, Inc. (OTC: MDDM) advises that
its Biodefense Division has entered into an agreement with Immunitor USA
Inc. to license the unique new vaccine candidate against deadly H5N1
influenza virus.
As a possible breakthrough in the development of H5N1 vaccines, Immunitor's
Avian Influenza Mucosal Immunity Vaccine (Amivax) has revealed several
critical advantages in studies to date:
1. orally delivered -- Amivax consists of killed influenza virus
formulated as a tablet. The vaccine is stable at room temperature and
does not lose biological activity when administered orally. This
provides a significant advantage over injected vaccines that usually
cost more, must be refrigerated and burdensome to administer.
2. acts by priming "the mucosal immunity" -- Amivax is absorbed through
the "mucosal" surface in the human gut, not directly in the
bloodstream itself, conferring immunological advantages over vaccines
that require distribution throughout the bloodstream. These advantages
may confer greater efficacy and safety of the vaccine against pathogen
that spreads primarily through the mucosal lining of the inner organs.
3. broadly active -- Amivax is expected to have a broad range of
activity against deadliest forms of influenza viruses, including H5N1
virus, an attractive feature, if the virus becomes airborne -- the
characteristic trait of pandemic virus.
4. economically and easily produced -- Amivax production to date has
been limited to research batches. However, the proprietary
manufacturing method allows the rapid scale-up to the millions of doses
at any existing vaccine facility, globally, if required.
Preliminary testing with Amivax indicates that the vaccine can confer
protection against lethal virus challenge in animals. Further development
work is being targeted to identification of the optimally effective dose
and immunization schedule in order to select the best commercial
formulation of the vaccine.
Immunitor USA Inc. is a private company based in Maryland, USA with
government and/or industry alliances in Russia, Canada, Australia, China,
Thailand, and the USA. As agreed between the parties, Immunitor USA Inc,
will continue to direct Amivax testing and production scale-up, while MDM
Group will focus on global strategic and marketing alliances to position
Amivax for commercialization and deployment of the vaccine product. The
license agreement prescribes a funding arrangement for the project, an
opportunity for MDM Group participation in Immunitor USA equity, and a
royalty payable by MDM Group to Immunitor USA on all Amivax sales and
sublicensing revenues.
H5N1 influenza virus has now spread through over 39 countries in Asia,
Middle East, Europe and Africa and according to the World Health
Organization has already caused more than $10 billion in losses to millions
of poultry farmers. The mortality rate of the virus in humans is over 50%
and 170 people are reported to have caught the deadly virus. Amivax and
other H5N1 vaccines are now being developed worldwide to prevent the
eventual pandemic that may occur if H5N1 virus mutates into a form that is
easily transmissible among humans. A vaccine such as Amivax may prevent
infection, or even substantially lessen symptoms of infection or mortality
when given shortly after exposure to virus.
This press release is available on the Company's official on-line Investor
Relations HUB at http://www.agoracom.com/IR/MDMGroup for investor
questions, answers and monitored commentary. Alternatively, investors are
able to e-mail all questions and correspondence to MDDM@agoracom.com where
they can also request addition to the investor e-mail list to receive all
future press releases and updates in real time.
About Immunitor USA Inc.
Immunitor USA Inc., (Company) was incorporated in February 2004 in
Maryland, USA as licensee of Immunitor Corporation Co., Ltd. -- the first
private biotech company founded in Thailand in 2001. The Company has the
exclusive rights to patents owned by Thai partner who has developed and
currently manufactures four vaccines as means of preventing and/or treating
viral (V1), bacterial (V2), and fungal (V4) infections; and cancer (V3).
The licensed technology is unique since it enables the formulation of any
protein or vaccine (recombinant or from natural source) as an oral pill,
which is easy to administer, has low manufacturing cost and is stable,
safe, and effective. No other technology is believed to exist that could
compete with Immunitor's breakthrough invention which is forecast to
reshape the vaccine and therapeutic protein industry. Company's private
clinic and manufacturing plant (which has to date produced over 12M doses)
are both based in Thailand. Immunitor has developed the oral H5N1 bird flu
vaccine candidate that is licensed to MDM Group.
About MDM Group Inc.
MDM Group's Biodefense Division is focused on discovery and rapid
development of vaccines and other countermeasures to support the Homeland
Defense and other stockpile requirements of the United States government
and its citizens as well as those in other countries. MDM Group's overall
business interests are focused on the Security, Biodefense and Homeland
Security industries.
Safe Harbor Statement
The information in this release, other than historical information, may be
considered forward-looking statements within the provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Projection and other
forward-looking statements and management expectations regarding future
events and/or financial performance of the Company -- although given in
good faith -- are inherently uncertain and actual events and/or results may
differ materially.
MDM Group is featured on www.agoracom.com and for further information see:
www.mdmgroupinc.com or:
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Tags: ,Medical and Healthcare:Healthcare PharmaceuticalsandBiotech:Biotech;PharmaceuticalsandBiotech:Drugs;,INTHPINK,CA,SANTA CLARA, CA
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