Hookipa is awarded a grant from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency

Vienna (Austria), September 18, 2012 - Hookipa Biotech AG, an Austrian based biotech company today announced the award of a grant from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (Forschungs-Förderungs-Gesellschaft, FFG), the leading public funding agency for translational research in Austria. The grant will support the development of HB101, a vaccine against a persistent viral infection in humans - a major unmet medical need. The support from FFG for the first year amounts to EUR 1.64 million; additional funding of up to 70% of the total project costs is expected in the next three years.

“The award of this highly competitive grant by FFG validates our innovative scientific approach and acknowledges the commercial potential of Hookipa´s Vaxwave® technology”, commented Dr. Katherine Cohen, CEO of Hookipa Biotech AG.  “This award underscores the high quality of the team and technology behind Hookipa and is a direct recognition of the excellent work Hookipa has been carrying out during its initial months”, said Graziano Seghezzi, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, the lead investor in Hookipa.

About Hookipa Biotech AG
Hookipa Biotech AG, founded in Vienna, Austria in summer 2011, is focused on the development of innovative prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines based on its proprietary Vaxwave® technology.
The Vaxwave® technology is a novel vaccine platform using a replication-defective viral vector for the prevention and treatment of multiple infectious diseases and cancer.  The platform is one of the most promising new technologies for next generation vaccines due to its ability to stimulate both potent B- cell and T-cell immune responses. Vaxwave® has been validated in various disease models. Unlike other vectors, Vaxwave® can be administered repeatedly to boost the immune system.
In October 2011, Hookipa raised €7 million from internationally renowned venture capital investors, Sofinnova Partners and Forbion Capital Partners. The company has recently moved into its state-of-the-art BSL2 facility in the Marxbox at the Campus Vienna Biocenter.

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