BioChem announces that Canadian researchers discover a potential vaccine that could prevent all types of meningococcal meningitis, including Type B.

LAVAL, QUEBEC--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 1996--IAF BioVac Inc., the Canadian vaccine subsidiary of BioChem Pharma Inc., has announced that researchers from Ste-Foy, Quebec have discovered a protein that appears to hold great potential for the development of a new human vaccine against all types of meningococcal infection, including group B, which is very prevalent and for which no vaccine exists. BioVac has all rights worldwide to seek patent protection to produce, market, use and commercialize human vaccines based on this newly identified meningococcal protein.

The development of a highly effective vaccine against meningococcal infection would respond to a research priority identified by the World Health Organization and, in the United States, by the Committee of the Children's Vaccine Initiative (CVI). This infection, whose most serious manifestations are acute meningitis and septicemia, has a high rate of mortality and morbidity around the world. The latest outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa affected over 100,000 people and claimed no less than 10,000 victims. It is estimated that roughly 35,000 of the 310,000 cases reported worldwide are fatal. In North America, the infection is known primarily for its unpredictable outbreaks among school-aged children.

The discovery was made by four researchers from the Vaccines Research Unit of the Laval University Hospital Centre in Quebec City and was reported today at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans, where some 15,000 scientists are currently meeting.

Our work is of scientific interest worldwide, since vaccines currently available provide only short-term protection against some types of meningococcal infections, and are ineffective against group B, which poses the greatest threat. In addition, existing vaccines have not been shown to be effective in very young children, the group that is at highest risk, said Dr. Bernard Brodeur, coordinator of the research team.

However, the protein that we identified, has the potential to offer protection against all known types of meningitis and seems to provoke a stronger immune response, and is therefore potentially more effective in young children.

In addition to Dr. Brodeur, the team consists of Dr. Josee Hamel, Dr. Denis Martin and Dr. Clement Rioux. The group's mission is to develop new sub-unit vaccines to prevent childhood diseases such as meningitis, otitis and respiratory ailments.

Traditional vaccines use whole cells, either killed or weakened, while the new sub-unit vaccines are developed from small microbial components such as capsular polysaccharides, anatoxins and surface proteins, Dr. Brodeur explained.

Results presented by the group today showed that the newly identified protein is present in all known meningococcal strains, including group B. Using six monoclonal antibodies which specifically recognize the protein, the researchers found that at least 95% of the meningococcal strains tested were detected, and one of the antibodies reacted with all of the strains. This suggests that a vaccine based on this protein could provide protection against all meningococcal bacteria and would not be restricted to certain groups, as is the case with currently available vaccines.

Using experimental in vivo models of infection, the researchers also demonstrated that inoculation with small quantities of this meningococcal protein provides very effective protection against infection. The team successfully cloned and identified the gene responsible for producing the protein, thereby enabling access to large amounts of the protein, which will eventually be used in human trials.

Following the Vaccines Research Unit's successful completion of preclinical trials, BioVac will advance the experimental vaccine to the human clinical trial stage. Phase I clinical trials are planned to begin in 1997. We are delighted with the Vaccines Research Unit's progress and believe we now have a promising vaccine to prevent meningococcal infection both effectively and economically, said Dr. Claude Vezeau, President, IAF BioVac Inc. BioVac, the vaccines subsidiary of BioChem Pharma is the only Canadian company dedicated to the development, production and marketing of vaccines. A new vaccine production center, of the highest international standards, is currently under construction in the Quebec City area.

BioChem Pharma is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative products for the prevention, detection, and treatment of human diseases. The Company's shares are traded on the Montreal and Toronto Stock exchanges (BCH) and on NASDAQ (BCHXF).

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