"We are pleased to be working with GE Healthcare, Avimex and the leading health officials in Mexico to launch the first and largest clinical trial to date using the 2009 H1N1 influenza VLP-based vaccine," said Thomas Johnston, Vice President of Strategy at Novavax. "This study is a continuation of our efforts to respond quickly to this current pandemic by leveraging our proprietary recombinant VLP technology and our innovative manufacturing solution. We appreciate having the opportunity and support to demonstrate the H1N1 vaccine's safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in Mexico and thereby help with ongoing pandemic response efforts. Similar to our previous announcements regarding our ongoing work in the countries of India and Spain, where we plan to establish in-border production, our planned clinical work in Mexico, if successful, could lead to rapid availability of the vaccine and advance Novavax's regional strategy to assist countries around the globe with such critical needs."
Virus-like particles (VLPs) mimic the external structure of viruses but lack the live genetic material that causes viral replication and infection. VLPs can be designed quickly to match individual viral strains and be produced efficiently using portable cell-culture technology. Novavax's VLP-based vaccine candidates are produced significantly more quickly than egg-based vaccines by using proprietary, portable, recombinant cell-culture technology.
The company will hold an investor conference call to discuss this clinical study at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The call will be hosted by Novavax President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rahul Singhvi and other members of the company's senior management team. A question and answer session will follow. The dial-in number for the conference call is 1 (866) 206-5917 (International: 1 (703) 639-1106). A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at www.novavax under Investors/Events. Please connect to this website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.
A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for 90 days after the call and a replay of the conference call will also be available by telephone beginning October 20, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time through October 22, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. To access the replay, dial 1 (888) 266- 2081 and enter pass code 1405084.
SOURCE Novavax, Inc.