Sanaria Inc. Receives Multi-Year U.S. NIH Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Grant to Enhance Efficiency and Scale-up of its Malaria Vaccine Manufacturing Process

By Prne, Gaea News Network
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

ROCKVILLE, Maryland -

Sanaria Inc. has received additional support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health in the form of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant. The award for two years is US$1.99 million. Subject to satisfactory progress by Sanaria, continued funding for a third year will bring the total to nearly US$3 million. This new funding will facilitate efforts to increase the efficiency and scale-up of manufacturing and release processes to the levels required for Phase 3 clinical testing, licensure, and commercial launch of Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ, Sanaria’s attenuated whole parasite malaria sporozoite vaccine.

Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ Vaccine entered Phase 1 clinical trials of safety and efficacy at the Naval Medical Research Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development in the spring of 2009. Since 2003, peer-reviewed NIAID SBIR grants have provided Sanaria with over US$17 million in financial support.

About Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ Vaccine

Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ Vaccine consists of live sporozoite-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites weakened (attenuated) by exposure to radiation. Such sporozoites, delivered to human volunteers by the bite of infected mosquitoes, have been shown to confer protection against malaria. Sanaria has developed novel technologies and facilities to successfully translate research findings from a handful of volunteers receiving mosquito-administered sporozoites to a bona fide vaccine that can be clinically tested and conventionally administered to hundreds of millions of recipients. Although live, attenuated pathogens are commonly used to vaccinate against many viral and bacterial diseases, the Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ Vaccine is unique among vaccines designed to prevent malaria. For the first time, an immunogen conferring high levels of protection against malaria has been formulated as a stable, injectable vaccine candidate that meets regulatory standards.

About Sanaria Inc.

Sanaria Inc. was founded in 2003. The company’s primary mission is to develop and commercialize attenuated whole-parasite malaria vaccines that confer high-level, long-lasting protection against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for most of the malaria-associated severe illness and death worldwide. Sanaria’s corporate headquarters, administrative, research, development, and manufacturing operations are located in Rockville, Maryland. The company’s Web site is www.sanaria.com.

Except for historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements made. Such statements include the assessment of the vaccine candidate, the expectations for immunity of the vaccine, and belief concerning the measure of success. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to raise sufficient funds, the regulatory approval process, dependence on third-parties, clinical trials results, and the ability to commercialize the vaccine.

For further information contact: Media- Adam Richman +1-301-770-3222, Investors- Robert Thompson +1-240-403-2750

Source: Sanaria Inc.

Media: Adam Richman, +1-301-770-3222, or Investors: Robert Thompson +1-240-403-2750, both of Sanaria Inc.

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