Vical announces positive vaccine study update

Biotech Vical says vaccine for transplant patients does well in midstage study

• On 3:19 pm EDT, Wednesday October 7, 2009

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Biotechnology company Vical Inc. said Wednesday a vaccine designed to ward off a potentially fatal virus in stem cell transplant patients performed well compared with a placebo in a midstage clinical trial.

The TransVax cytomegalovirus vaccine demonstrated an overall increase in cellular immune response in the ongoing trial, Vical said in a statement.

The virus, which can cause respiratory illness, is suppressed by the immune system in most people, Vical spokesman Alan Enbring said. But it can cause transplant rejection, destruction of internal organs or death if it flares up when a transplant recipient's immune system is suppressed during recovery.

About 80 patients are involved in the midstage study, and Vical expects to have final data from it by the middle of next year.

Vical shares fell rose 2 cents to $3.98 in Wednesday afternoon trading.