Post-Exposure Vaccination With IMVAMUNE(R) Protects Against Lethal Poxvirus Infection

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, Apr 10 (MARKET WIRE) --
In studies with Bavarian Nordic's new and innovative third-generation
smallpox vaccine, IMVAMUNE(R), scientists from Bavarian Nordic have for the
first
time demonstrated a therapeutic effect of a smallpox vaccine, days after
infection.
With the current available first- and second-generation smallpox vaccines no
evidence of a therapeutic effect has ever been shown in animal models. This
discovery was recently published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical
Investigation.

The scientific paper "Survival of lethal poxvirus infection in mice
dependson TLR9 and therapeutic vaccination provides protection" shows that a
single vaccination of IMVAMUNE(R) could protect a variety of immune suppressed
animals on the same day as a lethal challenge with Ectromelia virus; a natural
poxvirus infection of mice that closely models smallpox infection in humans.
Some
of these mice were so immune suppressed that vaccination with a traditional
smallpox vaccine (e.g. Dryvax(R)) led to the death of the animals prior to
any challenge with Ectromelia. Not only was IMVAMUNE(R) therefore shown to be
safer than traditional smallpox vaccines, but a single vaccination with
IMVAMUNE(R)
given up to 3 days post the lethal challenge with Ectromelia protected the
mice. This is the first therapeutic or post-exposure protection, demonstrated
for a smallpox vaccine in a relevant animal model.

These data follow Bavarian Nordic's previous observations that IMVAMUNE(R)
induced a
faster protective immune response compared to traditional smallpox vaccines.
Moreover, IMVAMUNE(R) is currently in phase two clinical studies and so far more
than 1,600 subjects have been vaccinated. IMVAMUNE(R) has been shown to be well
tolerated even in subjects not considered candidates to receive the current
first- and second-generation vaccines (e.g. HIV and Atopic Dermatitis patients).

Anders Hedegaard, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic: "This is a milestone
in the
development of our new and safer smallpox vaccine IMVAMUNE(R), and it opens
up for new and exciting smallpox preparedness possibilities. With IMVAMUNE(R)
we can offer a safer vaccine and a solid protection both before and after
exposure. No other smallpox vaccine has shown to offer these important
features."

About Bavarian Nordic:

Bavarian Nordic (COPN: BAVA) is a leading international biopharmaceutical
company
developing and producing innovative vaccines to prevent and treat infectious
diseases and cancer. With operations in Denmark, Germany, the USA, and
Singapore, Bavarian Nordic employs over 260 people.

Bavarian Nordic's patented technology, MVA-BN(R), is as been demonstrated in
clinicial
studies, one of the world's safest, multivalent vaccine vectors for the
development of vaccines against various infectious diseases such as smallpox,
HIV/AIDS, as well as against breast and prostate cancer.

For more information please visit www.bavarian-nordic.com

Contact:
Anders Hedegaard
President & CEO
+45 33 26 83 83

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