Creato Flu GmbH: Innovative Broad Spectrum Oral Influenza Vaccine

Biotech Company Develops New Salmonella-Based Vaccine /Seeks Partner for Further
Development and Commercialization
POTSDAM, Germany--(Business Wire)--
Creato Flu GmbH announced today an innovative approach to develop a new
broad-spectrum influenza vaccine. The live, orally active vaccine is expected to
be effective against all types of influenza virus. "This vaccine is active in
seasonal waves of influenza as well as occasional and unexpected outbreaks with
pandemic potential, such as, for example, avian influenza or the current
spreading of swine influenza," announced Prof. Dr. Schramm, Chief Operating
Officer of Creato Flu GmbH.

The vaccine is developed by taking advantage of a technology adapted from the
production of animal vaccines at Creatogen Laboratories GmbH. "This is a rather
simple principle which has been successfully applied to veterinary vaccines,"
explains Prof. Dr. Schramm. "A vaccination strain based on living salmonella,
which has been used as protection against typhoid fever in humans for many
years, is being modified by genetic engineering so that the bacterial cells
express highly conserved antigens of various influenza subtypes on their
surface." Vaccination of humans with this strain is expected to induce immunity
against all influenza subtypes having these antigens. "At present three highly
conserved antigens are known in influenza, and the existence of additional
antigens is quite unlikely; consequently, we can expect comprehensive
protection," asserts Prof. Schramm. Creato Flu GmbH has filed patent
applications for all three antigens.

The researchers of Creatogen have employed this technology to develop a poultry
vaccine against all types of avian influenza. This project, which is currently
in its animals testing phase, is done in collaboration with the Friedrich
Löffler Institute in Riems and funded by the German Federal Government (Ministry
of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection).

"The advantages of such a salmonella-based vaccine compared to a conventionally
manufactured, inactivated vaccine can be summarized as follows: it can be
administered orally, it can be produced rapidly, and in an inexpensive way, in
any quantity. In case of a pandemic, it could then easily meet demand worldwide.
Furthermore, production of this type of vaccine can start immediately. "It does
not require the usual pre-production development of at least six months", claims
Prof. Schramm.

The researchers of Creato Flu GmbH are planning to deliver a vaccine for human
clinical trials within the next 12 months. A respective patent has been filed.
The biotech company is currently seeking partners for expansion of the research
project into clinical trials and further development. "We are looking for a
partner from the pharmaceutical industry to advance this project together with
us and who can also provide the infrastructure for production and
commercialization," noted Dr. Alexander Wannenwetsch, General Manager of Creato
Flu GmbH. "Then we will very soon be in a position to protect human beings
against all types of influenza by means of a simple oral vaccination."

Creato Flu GmbH
Dr. Alexander Wannenwetsch
Telephone +49-9779-850342
E-mail: a.wannenwetsch@wannenwetsch.com
or
Prof. Dr. Matthias Schramm
Telephone +49-331-2300700
E-mail: m.schramm@creatogen.de

Copyright Business Wire 2009