AVANT's Partner, GlaxoSmithKline, Show That Rotarix(R) Provides Sustained And Broad Protection The First Two Years Of Life

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 28 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN) announced that new data from a large European clinical trial, published Friday in The Lancet, shows that AVANT's partner, GlaxoSmithKline's, Rotarix® rotavirus vaccine to be effective against the five most commonly circulating rotavirus types (G1, G2, G3, G4 ad G9). These virus types are responsible for more than 98% of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) disease in Europe during the first two years of life2. Importantly, the protection afforded by the vaccine's two-dose schedule in infants occurs before six months of age.

In August 2007, AVANT announced that GSK's Biologics License Application (BLA) for Rotarix® had been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, the GSK candidate vaccine could offer completion of the rotavirus vaccination series by four months of age. The rotavirus candidate vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine derived from the most common human rotavirus strain.

About Rotarix®

Rotarix® is an oral, two-dose, live attenuated vaccine against rotavirus disease in infants that was licensed in 1997 by AVANT Immunotherapeutics to GSK for worldwide commercialization. The vaccine was originally developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Rotarix® is the first human rotavirus vaccine derived from a human virus strain available in the market. The vaccine, which is given orally, confers significant protection against rotavirus diarrhea. Clinical trials have shown high efficacy against the most prevalent rotavirus strains.

About AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.

AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is a Massachusetts-based NASDAQ-listed company discovering and developing innovative vaccines and therapeutics that harness the human immune system to prevent and treat disease. AVANT's innovative bacterial vector delivery technologies with unique manufacturing and preservation processes offer the potential for a new generation of vaccines. AVANT has three commercialized products, including Rotarix® for the treatment of rotavirus and two human food safety vaccines for reducing salmonella infection in chickens and eggs. AVANT also has four product candidates in its development pipeline, an anti-inflammatory agent, TP10, and three candidates based on its oral, rapidly-protecting, single-dose and temperature-stable vaccine technology, including combination vaccines for travelers, the military and global health needs.

Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. can be obtained through our site on the World Wide Web: http://www.avantimmune.com.

References

1. Vesikari T., et al. Human rotavirus vaccine is highly efficacious against rotavirus gastroenteritis during the first two years of life in European infants: results of a randomized double-blinded controlled study. The Lancet; 2007.

2. Van Damme P et al, Rotavirus Genotype Distribution in Europe. JID; 2007: 195 (Suppl 1): S 17.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. There are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by AVANT.

These factors include, but are not limited to:

(1) the integration of multiple technologies and programs;

(2) the ability to adapt AVANT's vectoring systems to develop new, safe and effective orally administered vaccines against anthrax and plague or other any other microbes used as bioweapons and other disease causing agents;

(3) the ability to successfully complete development and commercialization of TP10, CETi-1, CholeraGarde® (Peru-15), Ty800, ETEC E. coli vaccine, VLPs and other products and AVANT's expectations regarding market growth;

(4) the cost, timing, scope and results of ongoing safety and efficacy trials of TP10, CETi-1, CholeraGarde® (Peru-15), Ty800, ETEC E. coli vaccine and other preclinical and clinical testing;

(5) the ability to successfully complete product research and further development, including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies of TP10, CETi-1, CholeraGarde® (Peru-15), Ty800, ETEC E. coli vaccine and other products;

(6) the ability of AVANT to manage multiple late stage clinical trials for a variety of product candidates;

(7) our expectations regarding our technological capabilities and expanding our focus to broader markets for vaccines;

(8) our expectations regarding the cost of funding our development partnership with Select Vaccines Limited for the influenza vaccine, the opportunity to extend to other disease targets, and AVANT's ability to develop products through this collaboration;

(9) changes in existing and potential relationships with corporate collaborators;

(10) the availability, cost, delivery and quality of clinical and commercial grade materials supplied by contract manufacturers and partners;

(11) the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals;

(12) the ability to develop and commercialize products before competitors that are superior to the alternatives developed by competitors;

(13) the ability to retain certain members of management;(

14) AVANT's expectations regarding research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses;

(15) AVANT's expectations regarding cash balances, capital requirements, anticipated royalty payments (including those from Glaxo), revenues and expenses, including infrastructure expenses;

(16) our belief regarding the validity of our patents and potential litigation; and

(17) certain other factors that might cause AVANT's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors" and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in each of AVANT's Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 8-K, as well as those described in AVANT's other press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time.

You should carefully review all of these factors, and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these differences.

These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates at the date of this press release, and we do not promise to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

AVANT Immunotherapeutics