Bioject At The Forefront Of Product Development With Use Of Biojector(R) 2000 In Vical's Expanded DNA Vaccine Clinical Trial

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free injection therapy (NFIT) systems, announced the utilization of the Biojector(R) 2000 in Vical Inc.'s Phase 1 testing of its Vaxfectin™ formulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) pandemic influenza vaccine, placing Bioject at the forefront of ongoing influenza vaccine research.

Vical is conducting a clinical trial comparing vaccination by needle and syringe to vaccination with the Biojector® 2000 needle-free injection therapy system. Following initial escalating-dose safety testing of the novel vaccine with needle and syringe, Vical has initiated needle-free testing in up to 50 subjects at the two highest doses.

"Needle-free injection therapy systems provide enhancing technologies for vaccines and we are confident that Vical's pDNA vaccine clinical trial will reaffirm the significant benefits of Bioject's NFIT systems," said Richard Stout, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Bioject. "We have found with other vaccines that our NFIT systems may improve immunogenicity, thereby improving efficacy."

In May 2007, Vical announced that in a recently completed animal study, a pDNA vaccine formulated with the company's patented Vaxfectin™ adjuvant and delivered by needle-free injection yielded significantly higher antibody responses than an unformulated pDNA vaccine delivered by needle and syringe.

"Our partnership with Vical demonstrates Bioject's ability to introduce future medical technology into clinical testing today, potentially benefiting the medical community and ultimately patients," said Ralph Makar, President and CEO of Bioject. "We are proud of our partnership with Vical and believe that this research will be mutually beneficial to both companies in the near future."

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, is an innovative developer and manufacturer of needle-free injection therapy systems (NFITS). NFITS provide an empowering technology and works by forcing medication at high speed through a tiny orifice held against the skin. This creates a fine stream of high-pressure fluid penetrating the skin and depositing medication in the tissue beneath. The Company is focused on developing mutually beneficial agreements with leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and veterinary companies.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding potential benefits provided by our NFIT product to the Vical pDNA vaccine. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, uncertainties related to the effect our product will have on this specific vaccine. Readers of this press release are referred to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's reports on Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q for further discussions of factors that could affect the Company's business and its future results. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if conditions or management's estimates or opinions should change.

Bioject Medical Technologies