Medicago announces poster presentation at the IDSA Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza 2009 meeting
QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 27, 2009 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX News Network) --
Medicago Inc. (TSX-V : MDG) (the "Company"), today announced that its abstract has been selected for a poster presentation at the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza 2009 meeting, held in Washington, DC from February 2-3, 2009. Dr. Sonia Trépanier will present highlights of the Company's development of Influenza vaccines generated from plant-made Virus-Like Particles ("VLP") and the potential of its proprietary manufacturing technology to address global pandemic influenza supply challenges.
The creation of vaccines for Avian Influenza in VLPs is a newer vaccine approach that is rapidly gaining recognition. This technology was recently selected by the Cleveland Clinic as one of the Top 10 Medical Innovation for 2009. VLPs have several advantages over traditional flu vaccines: they are more rapid to develop, produce, and manufacture. Furthermore, a live virus is not needed to produce a VLP vaccine, manufacturers only require the genetic sequence of the virus.
Poster Presentation: "Innovative H5N1 Virus-Like Particles: a Unique Combination of Product and Manufacturing Solution", Trépanier S., Landry N., Guay J.M., D'Aoust M.A., Dargis M. and Vézina L.P., Monday February 2, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton, Salon 1.
About Medicago
Medicago is committed to provide highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary Virus-Like Particle (VLP) and manufacturing technologies. Medicago is developing VLP vaccines to protect against H5N1 pandemic influenza, using a transient expression system which produces recombinant vaccine antigens in non-transgenic plants. This technology has potential to offer advantages of speed and cost over competitive technologies. It could deliver a vaccine for testing in about a month after the identification and reception of genetic sequences from a pandemic strain. This production time frame has the potential to allow vaccination of the population before the first wave of a pandemic strikes and to supply large volumes of vaccine antigens to the world market. Additional information about Medicago is available at www.medicago.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect Medicago's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Medicago disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE: Medicago Inc.
Medicago, Inc., Andy Sheldon, President and CEO, (418) 658-9393; Medicago, Inc., Arianna Vanin, Director, Investor Relations & Communications, (514) 796-3993
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