GenVec expands US malaria vaccine program

The vaccine candidate will be manufactured using GenVec’s proprietary adenovector technology and 293-ORF6 cell line based manufacturing process. The vaccine is based on two antigens and is designed to attack multiple stages in the lifecycle of the P. falciparum malaria parasite.

The Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) will use some of the materials manufactured under this contract to complete preclinical testing in preparation for a planned clinical trial, which will be executed by the NMRC.

Support for the manufacturing and clinical development of this adenovector based malaria vaccine candidate is provided by the US Agency for International Development Malaria Vaccine Development Program, the US Department of Defense Military Infectious Disease Research Program, and the Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

“We are pleased to see another vaccine candidate using GenVec’s technology move forward into the clinic,” said Dr Joseph Bruder, GenVec’s director of vector and vaccine programs. “Through our excellent collaborative relationship with the NMRC, we hope to make significant progress against malaria.”

GenVec’s vaccine program is being used to develop vaccines against a variety of diseases, including malaria, HIV, dengue virus and SARS. The Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is currently testing a GenVec co-developed vaccine against the virus that causes AIDS in a phase I dose-escalation study. Enrollment in this first HIV clinical trial has been completed.