Appointed Lead for Vaccine Programme Grant

 

TIDMLPX 
 
RNS Number : 8934Z 
Lipoxen PLC 
30 September 2009 
 

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| For immediate release                |                    30 September 2009 | 
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Lipoxen plc 
('Lipoxen' or 'the Company') 
Lipoxen Appointed Lead for Vaccine Programme Grant 
 
 
Lipoxen plc (AIM: LPX), a bio-pharmaceutical company specialising in the 
development of high-value differentiated biologicals, vaccines and siRNA 
delivery, is pleased to announce that the Technology Strategy Board, the 
Government organisation charged with driving UK innovation, has appointed 
Lipoxen as lead member of the grant consortium for its controlled-release 
nanoparticle vaccine research programme, which includes Lipoxen's influenza 
vaccine project. 
 
 
Lipoxen's influenza vaccine project stems from work as part of a Technology 
Strategy Board-funded grant consortium with Cambridge Biostability Ltd (CBL), 
the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Cambridge University for the development 
of controlled release nanoparticle vaccines. CBL entered into a Creditors 
Voluntary Liquidation in June 2009, following which Lipoxen have been appointed 
lead partner. 
 
 
In April 2009, Lipoxen reported positive preclinical results for the delivery of 
a novel influenza vaccine formulation with enhanced immunogenicity. Lipoxen's 
patent-protected anhydrous influenza product brings to the research programme 
long term storage stability and the potential for cold chain free distribution, 
characteristics which are recognized as important for the development of 
vaccines for the developing world markets. 
 
 
Since April, Lipoxen has continued to progress the influenza project. As lead 
partner Lipoxen will now be responsible for the overall management of the 
project which will include at least one other vaccine candidate originated by 
the UK's Health Protection Agency (UK HPA). The Multi-Imaging Centre at the 
University of Cambridge will provide comprehensive analytical support for the 
project using state of the art microscopic ultra-characterisation of the novel 
vaccine candidates. 
 
 
The principal project milestones are as follows: 
 
 
  1.  Completion of equipment installation and resource allocation 
  2.  Completion of initial protective efficacy studies 
  3.  Completion of definitive protective efficacy studies and challenge studies 
  4.  Completion and submission of Final Report 
 
 
 
While the project could take as long as 12 months to complete, given the 
prospective importance of the Company's H1N1 influenza product candidate, 
Lipoxen plans to accelerate the programme as much as possible, and hopes to 
achieve completion in no more than 9 months from the restart of the project in 
early October. 
 
 
Commenting on the Technology Strategy Board decision, M. Scott Maguire, CEO of 
Lipoxen, said: 
 
 
"Lipoxen is delighted to be appointed by the Technology Strategy Board as the 
lead member of the grant consortium working to develop controlled release 
nanoparticle vaccines. 
 
 
"The ability to achieve enhanced levels of immunity through better vaccines is 
important for seasonal flu, particularly when aiming to achieve good responses 
in the elderly. Equally, the ability to achieve adequate levels of immunity with 
lower dosages is important when considering the logistics of pandemic flu 
vaccine supply. 
 
- Ends - 
 
 
For further information please contact: 
 
 
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| Lipoxen plc                                     |    [phone]  | 
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| M. Scott Maguire, Chief Executive Officer       |                         | 
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|                                                 |                         | 
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| Singer Capital Markets (nominated adviser)      |     [phone] | 
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| Jeff Keating / Claes Spång                      |                         | 
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|                                                 |                         | 
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| Noble & Company                                 |   [phone]  | 
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| John Llewellyn-Lloyd / Sam Reynolds             |                         | 
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|                                                 |                         | 
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| Buchanan Communications                         |     [phone] | 
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| Lisa Baderoon, Catherine Breen                  |                         | 
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Notes for Editors 
 
 
About Lipoxen 
Lipoxen plc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new and 
improved biologic drugs and vaccines. Lipoxen has three proprietary patented 
technology platforms: 
 
 
1) PolyXen - for extending the efficacy and half life of biologic drugs 
2) ImuXen - for creating new vaccines and improving existing vaccines 
3) SiRNAblate - for the delivery of siRNA 
 
 
Lipoxen's technology is designed to improve the efficacy, safety, stability, 
biological half-life and immunologic characteristics of its products. 
 
 
Lipoxen has multiple drug and vaccine programmes in development. Two products 
are in clinical development, SuliXen, a long acting insulin and ErepoXen, a 
long-acting erythropoietin (EPO). Lipoxen's preclinical pipeline includes 
vaccines against HIV, influenza and malaria and Factor VIII through an exclusive 
license with Baxter, the global healthcare company. 
 
 
The Company has a low-risk business model and out-licenses its proprietary 
technologies to biopharmaceutical companies that have strong manufacturing and 
marketing capabilities. Lipoxen currently has commercial agreements with some of 
the world's leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies including Baxter, 
Schering-Plough, Sanofi-Aventis, the Serum Institute of India Limited, 
Genentech, Amgen and Genzyme. Furthermore, Baxter led the GBP2.9 million 
fundraising that the Company announced in May 2009, with a US$1 million 
investment. 
 
 
Lipoxen, which was founded in 1997, now trades on the AIM Market of the London 
Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LPX. More information can be found at the 
Company's website: www.lipoxen.com. 
 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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