Florida Department of Health Awards Three-Year Grant to Develop gp96-based Zika Vaccine
16 March 2017 - 10:02PM
Heat Biologics, Inc. (“Heat”) (Nasdaq:HTBX), a leader in the
development of immunotherapies designed to activate a patient’s
immune system against cancer, announced that Natasa Strbo, M.D.,
D.Sc., Research Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, received a
three-year $981,901 grant from the Florida Department of Health
2016-17 Zika Research Grant Initiative to further develop and test
gp96-based Zika vaccine. This vaccine is being developed
under a collaboration between the University of Miami and Heat’s
wholly-owned subsidiary, Zolovax, Inc., which has licensed the
patent.
The gp96 Zika vaccine is uniquely focused on
stimulating a robust immune response in the placenta which is part
of the body’s mucosa system and believed to play a key role in Zika
transmission from mother to fetus. Dr. Strbo’s published
previous work testing gp96-based vaccines in non-human primates
with SIV (primate HIV), where it reduced transmission rates by 73%,
led her to believe the vaccine stimulates a robust immune response
in the mucosa to protect the fetus. The grant is expected to
cover the preclinical development of the Zika vaccine, and allow
Dr. Strbo to expand her laboratory staff.
“We look forward to utilizing these funds to
develop this promising vaccine,” said Dr. Strbo. “We believe
it will activate a Zika-specific immune response in the placenta,
the protective barrier between the mother and fetus, which is
precisely where it needs to block transmission of the Zika
virus.”
“This validation is further evidence that Dr.
Strbo is on the right track in targeting Zika with our gp96-based
vaccine, and why we are working with the University of Miami to
develop it,” said Jeff Wolf, Heat’s Founder and Chief Executive
Officer. “These funds should carry this vital work through
much of the preclinical development and move it much closer to
trials in patients.”
About Heat Biologics, Inc. Heat
Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq:HTBX) is an immuno-oncology company
developing novel therapies that are designed to activate a
patient’s immune system against cancer utilizing an engineered form
of gp96, a protein that activates the immune system when cells die.
Heat’s highly specific T cell-stimulating therapeutic vaccine
platform technologies, ImPACT and ComPACT, in combination with
other therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are designed to
address three distinct but synergistic mechanisms of action: robust
activation of CD8+ “killer” T cells (one of the human immune
system’s most potent weapons against cancer); reversal of
tumor-induced immune suppression; and T cell co-stimulation to
further enhance patients’ immune response. Currently, Heat is
conducting a Phase 2 trial with HS-110 (viagenpumatucel-L) in
combination with an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor to treat
patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a Phase 2
trial with HS-410 (vesigenurtacel-L) in patients with non-muscle
invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
Heat’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zolovax, Inc.,
is developing therapeutic and preventative vaccines to treat
infectious diseases based on Heat’s gp96 vaccine technology, with a
current focus on the development of a Zika vaccine in conjunction
with the University of Miami.
For more information, please visit
www.heatbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements This
press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 on
our current expectations and projections about future events.
In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by
terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue,"
"expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"estimates," and similar expressions. These statements are
based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and
include statements regarding the belief that the vaccine will
activate a Zika-specific immune response in the placenta, the grant
funds carrying this vital work through much of the preclinical
development and move it much closer to trials in patients and the
potential of Heat’s therapeutic and preventative therapies.
These statements are based on management’s expectations and
assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to
a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to
predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or
implied by any forward-looking statements, including the ability of
Heat's therapies to perform as designed, to demonstrate safety and
efficacy, as well as results that are consistent with prior
results, the ability to enroll patients and complete the clinical
trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits, the
company’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals for
commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing
regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to the
company’s ability to promote or commercialize its product
candidates for specific indications, acceptance of its product
candidates in the marketplace and the successful development,
marketing or sale of products, the company’s ability to maintain
its license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of its
patent estate, its ability to establish and maintain
collaborations, its ability to obtain or maintain the capital
or grants necessary to fund its research and development
activities, and its ability to retain its key scientists or
management personnel and the other factors described in the
company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2015 and other filings with the SEC. The information in
this release is provided only as of the date of this release and
the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements contained in this release based on new information,
future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Jennifer Almond
Investor and Media Relations
919-240-7133
Investorrelations@heatbio.com
Heat Biologics (NASDAQ:HTBX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Heat Biologics (NASDAQ:HTBX)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024