Vaccine to ward off fatal virus in sc transplant patients performing well

barbara

Pioneer Founding member
Vical announces positive vaccine study update
Associated Press, 10.07.09

SAN DIEGO -- Biotechnology company Vical Inc. said Wednesday a vaccine designed to ward off a potentially fatal virus in stem cell transplant patients performed well compared with a placebo in a midstage clinical trial.

The TransVax cytomegalovirus vaccine demonstrated an overall increase in cellular immune response in the ongoing trial, Vical said in a statement.

The virus, which can cause respiratory illness, is suppressed by the immune system in most people, Vical spokesman Alan Enbring said. But it can cause transplant rejection, destruction of internal organs or death if it flares up when a transplant recipient's immune system is suppressed during recovery.

About 80 patients are involved in the midstage study, and Vical expects to have final data from it by the middle of next year.
 
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