IMUNON Enters into CRADA for Preclinical Studies of PlaCCine Modality in Preventive Vaccines Against Lassa Virus
24 Agosto 2023 - 3:05PM
IMUNON, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMNN), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company, announces it has entered into a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to evaluate the
immunogenicity and efficacy of two IMUNON DNA-based Lassa virus
vaccine candidates. Under the three-year agreement, the NIAID will
assess the efficacy of PlaCCine DNA constructs against Lassa virus
in guinea pig and non-human primate disease models, including both
prime and prime-boost vaccine strategies.
Lassa virus is typically spread by rodents and
can cause Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic-fever disease that is a
significant and growing public health concern with approximately
5,000 deaths annually. Nearly 60 million people throughout West
Africa are estimated to be at risk of contracting Lassa fever.
Several unusually large outbreaks have occurred over the past few
years with fatality rates of up to 30%. Because of its lethality
and increasing incidence, NIAID and the World Health Organization
have categorized Lassa virus as a Category A Priority Pathogen.
There is currently no vaccine or therapeutic for Lassa virus.
“We are excited to be working with the
Laboratory of Virology at NIAID to research a potential solution
for combatting this life-threatening pathogen as we evaluate the
hypothesis that a DNA-based vaccine may be an excellent modality
for a Lassa virus vaccine,” said Dr. Corinne Le Goff, president and
chief executive officer of IMUNON. “With its durable antigen
expression, longer shelf-life at workable, standard refrigerated
temperatures and flexible manufacturing, we are optimistic about
our ongoing work to develop PlaCCine as a potentially superior
alternative that can address the limitations of current commercial
products particularly in developing countries around the
world.”
“This CRADA is an example of one of our growth
strategy pillars, namely, to help defray development costs via
non-dilutive sources of capital.” Dr. Le Goff added.
About
NIAID
The NIAID's Laboratory of Virology conducts
innovative scientific research on viral agents, including
filoviruses, bunyaviruses, arenaviruses and flaviviruses, that
require high or maximum containment (biosafety level-2 to biosafety
level-4). Its research studies focus on vector/reservoir
transmission, viral ecology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology and host
immune response with the goal of developing diagnostics, vaccines
and therapeutics against these agents.
Laboratory scientists broadly study pathogens
that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers, viral encephalitis and certain
respiratory diseases. Their work employs investigations in cell
culture, animal models including nonhuman primates, reservoir
species and arthropod hosts to elucidate the viral pathogenesis,
immune responses, molecular evolution, cellular and molecular
biology, and vector-host interactions.
About IMUNON
IMUNON is a fully integrated, clinical stage
biotechnology company focused on advancing a portfolio of
innovative treatments that harness the body’s natural mechanisms to
generate safe, effective and durable responses across a broad array
of human diseases, constituting a differentiating approach from
conventional therapies.
IMUNON has two platform technologies: the
TheraPlas modality for the development of immunotherapies and other
anti-cancer nucleic acid-based therapies, and the PlaCCine modality
for the development of nucleic acid vaccines for infectious
diseases and cancer. The Company’s lead clinical program, IMNN-001,
is a DNA-based immunotherapy for the localized treatment of
advanced ovarian cancer currently in Phase 2 development. IMNN-001
works by instructing the body to produce safe and durable levels of
powerful cancer-fighting molecules, such as interleukin-12 and
interferon gamma, at the tumor site. Additionally, the Company is
conducting preclinical proof-of-concept studies on a nucleic acid
vaccine candidate (IMNN-101) targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus to
validate its PlaCCine platform. IMUNON’s platform technologies are
based on the delivery of nucleic acids with novel synthetic
delivery systems that are independent of viral vectors or devices.
IMUNON will continue to leverage these platforms and to advance the
technological frontier of nucleic acid-based products to better
serve patients with difficult-to-treat conditions. For more
information on IMUNON, visit www.imunon.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
IMUNON wishes to inform readers that
forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant
to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
including, without limitation, unforeseen changes in the course of
research and development activities and in clinical trials; the
uncertainties of and difficulties in analyzing interim clinical
data; the significant expense, time and risk of failure of
conducting clinical trials; the need for IMUNON to evaluate its
future development plans; possible acquisitions or licenses of
other technologies, assets or businesses; possible actions by
customers, suppliers, competitors or regulatory authorities; and
other risks detailed from time to time in IMUNON’s periodic reports
and prospectuses filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
IMUNON assumes no obligation to update or supplement
forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent
events, new information or otherwise.
Contacts:
IMUNON |
LHA Investor Relations |
Jeffrey W. Church |
Kim Sutton Golodetz |
Executive Vice President, CFO |
212-838-3777 |
and Corporate Secretary |
Kgolodetz@lhai.com |
609-482-2455 |
|
jchurch@imunon.com |
|
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