Intercell and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative Announce New Collaboration for a Vaccine against Malaria

» Malaria vaccine candidates selected by the PATH Malaria Vaccine

Initiative will be formulated with ICLL’s adjuvant IC31®

» The project, funded by PATH, will evaluate the potency of

Intercell´s novel adjuvant IC31® in the field of malaria

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Wien (euro adhoc) - Vienna (Austria), Seattle (USA), January 16, 2008
- Intercell AG (VSE, "ICLL") and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative
announce a new collaboration to evaluate Intercell's novel
proprietary adjuvant IC31® in combination with recombinant malaria
antigens from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The work will
be performed at Intercell and funded by PATH. The aim of these
studies is to demonstrate whether or not IC31®, in combination with
NIH's antigens, triggers an immune response when evaluated in
animals. First results of the studies are expected by the end of
2008.

"The development of a malaria vaccine is a great challenge and needs
the combination of the best vaccine components available today,"
explains Intercell´s Chief Scientific Officer Alexander von Gabain.
"The diversity, complexity, and different life stages of the malaria
parasite require an optimal choice of antigens and adjuvants in order
to deliver a protective vaccine. Our partner provides not only
excellent and validated antigens, but also a long-standing track
record in the malaria arena. Thus, we believe that it´s a great step
forward to develop a malaria vaccine containing our proprietary
adjuvant IC31® which has shown to facilitate the induction of
specific antibodies, but also a strong T-cell response, a feature
needed to protect against an intracellular pathogen, such as
plasmodia. We are looking forward to a fruitful and successful
partnership!"

"The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative is very excited about the
possibilities that this opportunity presents for the field, as
adjuvants have been identified as a critical gap in the development
of a malaria vaccine by donors and international agencies," said
Christian Loucq, MD, director of the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.
"Any time that we are able to find and evaluate novel adjuvants that
can be applied to malaria vaccine development, we take another step
toward our goal of developing a safe and effective vaccine for
children in Africa and toward the long-term goal of eradicating
malaria."

About Malaria

Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and an enormous
public health problem. Malaria causes about 400-900 million cases of
fever and approximately one to three million deaths annually — this
represents at least one death every 30 seconds. Malaria is
transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles
mosquitoes. The resulting disease in humans can be devastating. After
spreading rapidly through the bloodstream to the liver, the parasite
emerges again into the blood stream, to settle finally in the red
blood cells, where it multiplies and emerges in bursts of new
organisms. These parasites, because of their large numbers, can cause
particular damage to the nervous system, liver, and kidney.

In young children and adults who have not recently been infected (and
therefore have not developed natural immunity), this cycle can result
in death within hours from cerebral malaria. Others die later in the
infection from overwhelming anemia or liver and kidney failure.
Untreated, up to 20% of persons infected with malaria will die.

Malaria is not just a disease commonly associated with poverty, but
is also a cause of poverty and a major hindrance to economic
development. The disease has been associated with major negative
economic effects on regions where it is widespread. In its entirety,
the economic impact of malaria has been estimated to cost Africa $12
billion USD every year. The economic impact includes costs of health
care, working days lost due to sickness, days lost in education,
decreased productivity due to brain damage from cerebral malaria, and
loss of investment and tourism. In some countries with a heavy
malaria burden, the disease may account for as much as 40% of public
health expenditure, 30-50% of inpatient admissions, and up to 50% of
outpatient visits.

About IC31®

Adjuvants enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. Existing adjuvants
on the market induce antibodies but no or little T-cell immunity.
IC31® is an adjuvant inducing both T-cell and B-cell responses with a
unique synthetic formulation which combines the immunostimulating
properties of an anti-microbial peptide, KLK, and an
immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide, ODN1a. The two-component
solution can be simply mixed with antigens, no conjugation is
required. Intercell currently has IC31® collaborations with a number
of global vaccine companies, as well as small biotechs. IC31® has
also been partnered with Novartis and Wyeth for the development of
several new vaccines against infectious diseases.

About the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) is a global program
established in 1999 with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative´s mission is to
accelerate the development of promising vaccines and ensure their
availability and accessibility in the developing world. For more
information, visit www.malariavaccine.org.

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates
sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities
worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. By
collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners, PATH
helps provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies
that change the way people think and act. PATH´s work improves global
health and well-being.

For more information, visit www.path.org.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Intercell AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Intercell AG

Lucia Malfent

Head of Corporate Communications

Campus Vienna Biocenter 2

A-1030 Vienna

P: +43-1-20620-303

Mail to: LMalfent@intercell.com

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

Preeti Singh

Burness Communications

7910 Woodmont Avenue, Ste. 700 Bethesda, MD 20814-7034

P: +1 301-652-1558

Mail to: Psingh@burnesscommunications.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN: A0D8HW
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market