Intercell and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative Announce New Collaboration for a Vaccine against Malaria

» The project, funded by PATH, will evaluate the potency of
Intercell´s novel adjuvant IC31® in the field of malaria
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Wien (euro adhoc) - Vienna (Austria), Seattle (USA), January 16, 2008 -
Intercell AG (VSE, "ICLL") and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative announce a
new collaboration to evaluate Intercell's novel proprietary adjuvant IC31® in
combination with recombinant malaria antigens from the National Institutes of
Health (NIH). The work will be performed at Intercell and funded by PATH. The
aim of these studies is to demonstrate whether or not IC31®, in combination with
NIH's antigens, triggers an immune response when evaluated in animals. First
results of the studies are expected by the end of 2008.

"The development of a malaria vaccine is a great challenge and needs the
combination of the best vaccine components available today," explains
Intercell´s Chief Scientific Officer Alexander von Gabain. "The diversity,
complexity, and different life stages of the malaria parasite require an optimal
choice of antigens and adjuvants in order to deliver a protective vaccine. Our
partner provides not only excellent and validated antigens, but also a
long-standing track record in the malaria arena. Thus, we believe that it´s a
great step forward to develop a malaria vaccine containing our proprietary
adjuvant IC31® which has shown to facilitate the induction of specific
antibodies, but also a strong T-cell response, a feature needed to protect
against an intracellular pathogen, such as plasmodia. We are looking forward to
a fruitful and successful partnership!"

"The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative is very excited about the possibilities
that this opportunity presents for the field, as adjuvants have been identified
as a critical gap in the development of a malaria vaccine by donors and
international agencies," said Christian Loucq, MD, director of the PATH Malaria
Vaccine Initiative. "Any time that we are able to find and evaluate novel
adjuvants that can be applied to malaria vaccine development, we take another
step toward our goal of developing a safe and effective vaccine for children in
Africa and toward the long-term goal of eradicating malaria."

About Malaria

Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and an enormous public
health problem. Malaria causes about 400-900 million cases of fever and
approximately one to three million deaths annually — this represents at least
one death every 30 seconds. Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bites
of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The resulting disease in humans can be
devastating. After spreading rapidly through the bloodstream to the liver, the
parasite emerges again into the blood stream, to settle finally in the red blood
cells, where it multiplies and emerges in bursts of new organisms. These
parasites, because of their large numbers, can cause particular damage to the
nervous system, liver, and kidney.

In young children and adults who have not recently been infected (and therefore
have not developed natural immunity), this cycle can result in death within
hours from cerebral malaria. Others die later in the infection from overwhelming
anemia or liver and kidney failure. Untreated, up to 20% of persons infected
with malaria will die.

Malaria is not just a disease commonly associated with poverty, but is also a
cause of poverty and a major hindrance to economic development. The disease has
been associated with major negative economic effects on regions where it is
widespread. In its entirety, the economic impact of malaria has been estimated
to cost Africa $12 billion USD every year. The economic impact includes costs of
health care, working days lost due to sickness, days lost in education,
decreased productivity due to brain damage from cerebral malaria, and loss of
investment and tourism. In some countries with a heavy malaria burden, the
disease may account for as much as 40% of public health expenditure, 30-50% of
inpatient admissions, and up to 50% of outpatient visits.

About IC31®

Adjuvants enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. Existing adjuvants on the
market induce antibodies but no or little T-cell immunity.
IC31® is an adjuvant inducing both T-cell and B-cell responses with a unique
synthetic formulation which combines the immunostimulating properties of an
anti-microbial peptide, KLK, and an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide,
ODN1a. The two-component solution can be simply mixed with antigens, no
conjugation is required. Intercell currently has IC31® collaborations with a
number of global vaccine companies, as well as small biotechs. IC31® has also
been partnered with Novartis and Wyeth for the development of several new
vaccines against infectious diseases.

About the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) is a global program established in
1999 with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The PATH Malaria
Vaccine Initiative´s mission is to accelerate the development of promising
vaccines and ensure their availability and accessibility in the developing
world.
For more information, visit www.malariavaccine.org.

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable,
culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break
longstanding cycles of poor health. By collaborating with diverse public- and
private-sector partners, PATH helps provide appropriate health technologies and
vital strategies that change the way people think and act. PATH´s work improves
global health and well-being.

For more information, visit www.path.org.

Further inquiry note:
Intercell AG
Lucia Malfent
Head of Corporate Communications
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
A-1030 Vienna
P: +43-1-20620-303
Mail to: [email protected]

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative
Preeti Singh
Burness Communications
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Ste. 700 Bethesda, MD 20814-7034
P: +1 301-652-1558
Mail to: [email protected]

end of announcement euro adhoc
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emitter: Intercell AG
Campus Vienna Biocenter 6
A-1030 Wien
phone: +43 1 20620-0
FAX: +43 1 20620-800
mail: [email protected]
WWW: www.intercell.com
sector: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
indexes:
stockmarkets: official market: Wiener Börse AG
language: English

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