Commercialization Of LifeTide™ SW 5 GHRH Gene Therapy Product For Pigs In Australia

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 08 Oct 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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VGX Animal Health Inc. (VGXAH) and its parent company, VGX Pharmaceuticals (VGXP), announced today the execution of an exclusive Distribution and Marketing Agreement for its LifeTide™ SW 5 GHRH gene therapy product for pigs in Australia with Country Vet Wholesaling Pty Ltd (CVW). Under the Agreement, CVW has the exclusive right to market, promote, sell and distribute the Product in Australia.

LifeTide™ SW 5 is an injectable DNA plasmid encoding for porcine GHRH, and is administered as a once in a lifetime treatment for use in sows of breeding age to increase the number of piglets weaned. Licensing studies completed in Australia demonstrated a significant decrease in perinatal mortality and morbidity, resulting in an increase in sow productivity and the number of pigs weaned per sow. In January 2008, LifeTide™ SW 5 became the world's first approved DNA therapy for Food Animals. The complete approval can be viewed on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's web site (http://services.apvma.gov.au).

"We are optimistic that the commercialization of our GHRH product for pigs will significantly expand the use of plasmid GHRH delivered by electroporation to other indications, territories, and mammals, including humans," stated Douglas R. Kern, D.V.M., M.S., Vice President of Business Development.

VGXAH has also submitted an application for approval of LifeTide™ SW 5 in New Zealand, and plans to seek approval in several other countries in South East Asia. In addition, the Company has initiated studies to support regulatory approval of this technology in other major markets, including the United States and China. Furthermore, VGXAH plans to further develop GHRH technology for companion dogs and cats. VGXP is awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to study the treatment of humans with GHRH (VGX-3200).

About Country Vet Wholesaling
More information about CVW can be found at http://www.countryvet.com.au

About VGX Animal Health
More information about VGXAH can be found at http://www.vgxah.com.

About VGX Pharmaceuticals
More information about VGXP can be found at http://www.vgxp.com.