ID BIOMEDICAL INITIATES STREPTAVAX CLINICAL TRIAL.

ID Biomedical Corporation, Vancouver, BC, has started a Phase I/II Clinical Trial of StreptAvax(tm), the company's vaccine for the prevention of infections caused by group A streptococcus. The first healthy adult volunteers have been enrolled for the initial phase of the study and have received their first vaccination of StreptAvax(tm). This study is being conducted at the Clinical Trials Research Centre (CRTC) at IWK Grace Health Centre in Halifax. StreptAvax(tm) is the only vaccine against group A streptococcus being tested in human clinical trials. The clinical trial will initially evaluate the safety and immune response of StreptAvax(tm) in adults. With positive results, the studies will move to examine the safety and immune response of the vaccine in children. In this portion of the clinical trial, ID Biomedical expects children of two different age groups to receive StreptAvax(tm): adolescents, age 10-14 years of age; and the target age group for which StreptAvax(tm) is being primarily developed, preschool children, 3-6 years of age.

The Principal Investigator for this study will be Dr. Scott Halperin, professor of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University and also Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Director of the (CTRC) at IWK Grace Health Centre. Dr. Halperin is one of North America's leading clinical researchers in the field of pediatric vaccines. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles and has been a member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Health & Welfare Canada.

StreptAvax(tm) is a multivalent recombinant vaccine developed to cover 26 serotypes of group A streptococcus. According to data obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these serotypes are believed to be responsible for causing the vast majority of group A streptococcus related diseases in North America.

Group A streptococcus is responsible for common infections of the throat ("strep throat') and skin. Left untreated, these infections can lead to life threatening diseases including invasive faciitis ("flesh eating disease"), rheumatic fever and toxic shock syndrome. In the United States alone it is estimated that there are 25-35 million doctor visits each year for suspected group A streptococcal infections, making it one of the most common childhood illnesses for which no preventative vaccine exists.

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