US Defense Logistics Agency announces plans to enter into supply contract to purchase Japanese Encephalitis vaccine
» Request for Proposal (RFP) aiming at exclusive, multiyear contract for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine
» Intercell in a unique position to respond to strategic needs of US armed forces
Vienna (Austria), August 21, 2008 – Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) announced that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), United States Department of Defense, has posted today a Request for Proposal (RFP) for purchase of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine. As JE is a serious and growing public health threat in Asia, the DLA intends to enter into a contract to purchase supplies of JE vaccine for use with military personnel who are deployed to affected countries.
The major details of this RFP are as follows:
» Exclusive contract to supply DLA with their requirements for JE vaccine
» Multiyear contract, with annual options to facilitate price and quantity modifications
» Duration of contract will be 5 years, at minimum Intercell has already been in close contact with the DLA regarding this RFP and believes one reason for this proposed contract at this time is the pending Biological License Application (BLA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Intercell’s JE vaccine. Intercell submitted the BLA for its JE vaccine in December 2007 and anticipates FDA approval and subsequent first sales to the military markets in the next few months.
"We are pleased that the DLA has announced this RFP to establish a contract for supply of JE vaccine," stated Gerd Zettlmeissl, Chief Executive Officer of Intercell. "Intercell’s JE vaccine was developed in collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute (US Department of Defense) and we look forward to continuing this valued relationship by securing a long-term, exclusive contract for supply of the vaccine for use in the military’s JE immunization program. Intercell plans to respond to this RFP in a timely manner and we are optimistic that we can successfully close a contract in due time."
Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-borne flaviviral infection, remains virulent in Asia and has recently spread to countries not previously infected. Hence, the virus is a constant health threat to millions of civilian travelers and military personnel visiting or being deployed to affected countries, including China and India. There is no treatment for JE, so vaccination is the primary countermeasure against this disease.
About Intercell AG
Intercell AG is a growing biotechnology company which focuses on the design and development of novel vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with substantial unmet medical need. The Company develops antigens and adjuvants which are derived from its proprietary technology platforms and has in-house GMP manufacturing capabilities. Based on these technologies, Intercell has strategic partnerships with a number of global pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Merck & Co., Inc., Wyeth, Sanofi Pasteur, Kirin, and the Statens Serum Institut.
The Company's leading product, a prophylactic vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis, successfully concluded pivotal Phase III clinical trials in 2006 and is currently in the process of market approval in the US, Europe, Australia and Canada. Market approval in the US, Europe and Australia is expected for the second half of 2008.
The company's broad development pipeline includes a Travelers' Diarrhea vaccine (patch) in Phase II (start of Phase III expected in 2009), a Pseudomonas vaccine in Phase II, as well as an immunostimulant vaccine patch in pandemic Flu, a partnered S. aureus vaccine in Phase II and five products focused on infectious diseases in preclinical development.
Intercell is listed on the Vienna stock exchange under the symbol "ICLL".
For more information please visit: www.intercell.com
ISIN: AT0000612601
Contact Intercell AG:
Lucia MalfentHead of Corporate CommunicationsCampus Vienna Biocenter 2, A-1030 ViennaP: +43-1-20620-303Mail to: LMalfent(at)intercell.com