CORPORATE PROFILE
ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc. (IVT) is a private biotechnology company developing therapeutic cancer and non-cancer prophylactic infectious disease vaccines for human health. IVT has a breakthrough VacciMax® platform, a vaccine delivery and enhancement system and an antigen discovery platform with a large selection of validated vaccine antigens. The combination of the right antigens and strong novel delivery will give IVT’s future pipeline a distinct competitive advantage and will position IVT as a key player in development of premium vaccine products.
IVT is in the process of expansion into the US through acquisition of Immunotope Inc., a clinical stage immunotherapeutics company based in Pennsylvania. IVT and Immunotope have signed a binding memorandum of understanding for the acquisition and anticipate completion of this transaction by June 2008.
VacciMax® platform - Vaccine delivery and enhancement system
IVT’s impressive pre-clinical results in a variety of animal models clearly set VacciMax® apart from existing vaccine enhancement formulations. The VacciMax® platform is able to stimulate an earlier, more powerful, long lasting immune response, which is required for a potent cancer immunotherapy for a range of cancers, including cervical, breast, ovarian, melanoma, prostate, colon and lung. IVT was able to achieve 100% tumor elimination with a single dose of the enhanced vaccine in three independent cancer models.
The VacciMax® platform is also able to dramatically enhance the immune responses with a single dose, when compared with commercially available vaccines. IVT’s technology could be the key to developing effective vaccines against pandemic influenza, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or other infectious disease vaccines.
IVT’s vaccine technology was first used in animal heath applications. Though today IVT remains focused on human health, animal health will be a source of short term licensing revenues for the company. IVT has completed three agreements with Pfizer Animal Health, to license IVT’s technology for animal health applications. IVT intends to further license its technologies to qualified partners for specific animal health applications. Studies in large animals including non-human primates showed that IVT’s vaccine platform has an excellent safety profile.
The VacciMax® platform is well developed with extremely broad applicability. IVT has completed the scale-up and manufacturing method development for the VacciMax® platform. Dedicated equipment has been purchased and installed at the cGMP contract development site. IVT has manufactured relevant commercial scale vaccine batches, including the most recent 50 litre (200,000 doses) batch for a prophylactic vaccine indication.
Antigen discovery and future product pipeline
With the acquisition of Immunotope, IVT will gain access to an innovative antigen discovery platform. Immunotope’s scientific founders have optimized a method to identify tumor “signature” antigens actually found on the surface of tumors. Incorporation of these antigens into vaccines ‘trains’ the patient’s cytotoxic T lymphocytes to recognize and destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected.
The laboratory in Pennsylvania will continue to discover and patent protect immunotherapeutic antigens for a range of cancer and infectious disease indications. The discovery methodology as well as the well developed method of formulation in the VacciMax® platform will allow for “fast-track” timelines from discovery to clinical development.
IVT is a Phase 1 clinical company. IVT will continue the ongoing Phase I clinical trial of IMT-1012, an immunotherapeutic vaccine combining 12 different antigens targeting separate tumor pathways in advanced-stage ovarian and breast cancer patients. The trial is now underway at the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The IMT-1012 vaccine is indicated for both Her2 negative and Her2 positive breast cancer patients. IVT anticipates leveraging the current clinical trial in order to accelerate bringing the VacciMax® platform into the clinic.
IVT will focus its efforts on building a strong pipeline of proprietary vaccine products. The pipeline will include therapeutic cancer and prophylactic infectious disease products at different stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. A potential pipeline will include immunotherapeutic products for ovarian, breast, colon, prostate and lung cancers as well as prophylactic infectious disease products for hepatitis B, C and influenza.
IVT’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Randal Chase, is one of Canada’s most experienced and respected biotechnology business leaders, particularly in the vaccine field. He has a long record of successful management of biotech companies. He has held senior positions in major pharmaceutical firms, such as Glaxo Canada, and was president/CEO of 6 biotech/vaccine companies including Shire Biologics, Pasteur Merieux Connaught, North American Vaccine, Biochem Pharma Vaccines and QLT.
For additional information please contact:
Mr. Brian Lowe
Vice President
Tel: (902) 492-1819
bl.ivt@immunovaccine.com
ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc.
1819 Granville Street Suite 303
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 3R1
