LPX Lipoxen

    RNS Number : 6175W
  Lipoxen PLC
  13 June 2008
   

    Lipoxen PLC
    ("Lipoxen" or "the Company")

    Lipoxen receives grant to research improved HIV vaccine delivery 
    12-month innovation fund grant from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

    London, UK, 13 June 2008 - Lipoxen PLC (AIM:LPX), a bio-pharmaceutical company specialising in the development of high value
differentiated biologicals, vaccines and oncology drugs, announces today that the Company has received a grant to conduct research into
enhancing the human antibody response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine candidates. Funding for the project is provided by the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), an organization whose mission is to ensure the development of safe, effective, accessible,
preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world.  

    The objective of the project is to create a formulation of HIV envelope protein gp140 and HIV DNA in liposomes that gives rise to the
induction of antibodies, which protect against infection of human cells challenged with primary isolates of HIV in vitro. The research will
utilise Lipoxen*s proprietary ImuXen� technologythat is based on using liposomes to administer vaccines. The vaccine components (antigens
and adjuvants) are protected by a liposomal vesicle that enhances their delivery to the immune system and leads to immune responses which
are much stronger and more rapid than those observed with vaccines delivered by conventional means. The liposomal formulations are also well
known to minimise the side effects of vaccination as a result of the containment and slow release of the active materials. 

    This month marks the 25th anniversary since HIV was discovered as the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and since then
over 60 million people have been infected with the virus and over 25 million people have died.  Since 1983, progress has been made in the
search for an AIDS vaccine, but to date, only two vaccine candidates have completed late-stage human testing, and both of these vaccine
candidates have failed.  There are still many scientific questions that continue to puzzle AIDS vaccine researchers. In an effort to address
these questions and bring much-needed breakthroughs to the AIDS vaccine field, AIDS vaccine experts are actively pursuing new and innovative
approaches from beyond traditional research avenues. IAVI's Innovation Fund, through which Lipoxen has received its grant, is one mechanism
aimed at bringing pioneering ideas to the AIDS vaccine field. Lipoxen has received the third Innovation Fund grant that IAVI has made to
date. Under the terms of the agreement, the novel delivery systems that Lipoxen and IAVI develop together through the project will be jointly owned by both parties.

    M. Scott Maguire, CEO of Lipoxen, said:
    'We are delighted that the improved delivery and vaccine effectiveness offered by our ImuXen technology has been recognised by IAVI.
From experience with other pathogens, we know that a vaccine is the best way to stop a virus. The intellectual property portfolio that
Lipoxen is continually developing in the vaccine delivery area is enabling us to carve out an important position in the development of novel
vaccines that address some of the world's most infectious diseases and may also help us to bring HIV's 25 year story to an end." 

    Michelle Dees, Director of IAVI's Innovation Fund, said: 
    "At IAVI we strive to access new technologies that hold future promise for ultimately bringing an HIV vaccine to market. We are
delighted to now be working with Lipoxen. If successful, technologies like these could significantly transform the HIV vaccine pipeline and
speed the discovery of an eventual AIDS vaccine."

     - Ends -


    Enquiries 

 Lipoxen PLC
 M. Scott Maguire, Chief Executive Officer               +44 (0)20 7691 3583 

 International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
 Hester Kuipers                                          +31 20 521 0343

 Landsbanki Securities (UK) Limited (nominated adviser)
 Shaun Dobson / Claes Spg                                +44 (0)20 7426 9000

 Citigate Dewe Rogerson
 David Dible / Heather Keohane                           +44 (0)20 7638 9571
                    


    Notes to Editors

    Further information on Lipoxen 

    Lipoxen PLC (AIM:LPX) is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of high value differentiated biologicals, vaccines
and oncology drugs. Products currently under development include improved formulations of important biologicals such as erythropoietin
(EPO), G-CSF, insulin and Interferon-alpha. Lipoxen has two products in clinical development SuliXen, a long-acting human insulin and
ErepoXen�, long-acting EPO. These novel products, which are based on Lipoxen's proprietary PolyXen� technology, each address markets in
excess of US$1 billion. 

    Lipoxen's technology is designed to improve the stability, biological half-life and immunologic characteristics of therapeutic proteins
naturally. Lipoxen has two further naturally-derived proprietary delivery technologies, ImuXen� and a related liposomal technology for the
formulation of cytotoxic oncology drugs, which are being developed to enhance the efficacy and safety of various vaccines such as a
multivalent Hepatitis B-E and pneumococcal vaccines, as well as a number of anti-cancer agents like paclitaxel. The Company's proprietary
delivery technologies are attracting significant interest and Lipoxen is currently co-developing products with the Serum Institute of India
Limited (one of the world's leading vaccine companies, India's largest biotech company and a major shareholder in Lipoxen) and has license
agreements in place with Baxter International and InterVet, a leading animal health company.

    Lipoxen was admitted to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange in January 2006.

    About IAVI  
    The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a global not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the development of
safe, effective, accessible, preventive HIV vaccines for use throughout the world. Founded in 1996 and operational in 24 countries, IAVI and
its network of collaborators research and develop vaccine candidates.  IAVI's financial and in-kind supporters include the Alfred P. Sloan
Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, The John D. Evans Foundation, The New
York Community Trust, the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust, The Rockefeller Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the
Governments of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the Basque
Autonomous Government as well as the European Union; multilateral organizations such as The World Bank; corporate donors including BD
(Becton, Dickinson & Co.), Bristol-Myers Squibb, Continental Airlines, Google Inc., Henry Schein, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer Inc; leading AIDS charities such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights
AIDS and Until There's A Cure Foundation; other private donors such as The Haas Trusts; and many generous individuals from around the world.
 For more information, see www.iavi.org. 


    This announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' which include all statements other than statements of historical facts,
including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for
future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Company's products and services), and any statements preceded
by, followed by or that include forward-looking terminology such as the words 'targets', 'believes', 'estimates', 'expects', 'aims',
'intends', 'will', 'can', 'may', 'anticipates', 'would', 'should', 'could' or similar expressions or the negative thereof. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company's control that
could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the
environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause the Company's actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include those relating to The Company's funding
requirements, regulatory approvals, clinical trials, reliance on third parties, intellectual property, key personnel and other factors.
These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change
in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are
based. As a result of these factors, readers are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statement.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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