Canada orders smallpox vaccine ahead of need

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The Government of Canada Procures IMVAMUNE Smallpox Vaccine for the Country's

Biological Preparedness

From the PharmaLive.com News Archive - Dec. 01, 2008

KVISTGARD, Denmark, December 01, 2008 /

 

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following a Request for Proposal issued in 2007 with

the intent to procure an MVA-based, third generation smallpox vaccine, Public

Works and Government Services Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Department of

National Defence, has awarded a contract to Bavarian Nordic for the delivery of

IMVAMUNE®.

 

The Canadian authorities intend to use IMVAMUNE® as part of the country's

bio-preparedness programme.

 

The contract provides for the delivery of 20,000 doses of IMVAMUNE® and

payment for the application process to support the use of IMVAMUNE® in an

emergency under the Canadian Government's Special Access Programme. The delivery

will take place in 2009.

 

The contract also provides for the optional purchase of an additional 180,000

doses of IMVAMUNE® as well as payment for investigating the requirements for

obtaining a licensure of the vaccine in Canada. Hereby, the Government of Canada

and Bavarian Nordic have entered into a long term contract.

 

The order does not change Bavarian Nordic's previously announced financial

guidance for 2008.

Smallpox and the need for a new vaccine

 

Smallpox is the most dangerous infectious disease ever faced by mankind.

Hundreds of millions of people have died from the disease. Today, the smallpox

threat may be encountered in various ways: bio-terrorism, synthetically

manufactured viruses and outbreak from controlled smallpox stocks.

 

The old, conventional smallpox vaccines which have been stockpiled around the

world are not suited to current needs. They are not safe and may cause severe

side effects, even death. These vaccines cannot be given to people who are

immune compromised, which constitute approx. 25 % of the population.

 

IMVAMUNE®, Bavarian Nordic's new, third generation smallpox vaccine, offers a

number of unique advantages compared to the old vaccines. The superior safety

profile of IMVAMUNE® makes it suitable for vaccination of those with

compromised immunity. Furthermore, the vaccine is easier to administer and it

protects faster than the old vaccines, which is convenient for use in the

general population in the case of an emergency.

 

According to Anders Hedegaard, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, " With the

Canadian contract, yet another nation recognizes IMVAMUNE® as an essential

part of the its smallpox preparedness. Furthermore Bavarian Nordic has just

received a small follow-up order with the same Asian country under the same

contractual framework as in March. This further demonstrates that countries are

increasingly focused on building and retaining an optimum biological

preparedness against smallpox, the world's most feared and dangerous infectious

disease. With IMVAMUNE® these countries have gained access to the most

innovative smallpox vaccine available. "

 

About Bavarian Nordic

 

Bavarian Nordic A/S is a leading industrial biotechnology company developing and

producing novel vaccines for the treatment and prevention of life-threatening

diseases with a large unmet medical need. The company's business strategy is

focused in three areas: biodefence, cancer and infectious diseases. Bavarian

Nordic's proprietary and patented technology MVA-BN® is one of the world's

safest, multivalent vaccine vectors. Bavarian Nordic has ongoing contracts with

the U.S. government for the late-stage development and procurement of the

company's third-generation smallpox vaccine, IMVAMUNE®.

 

Bavarian Nordic is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen under the symbol BAVA.

For more information please visit http://www.bavarian-nordic.com

Forward-looking statements

 

This announcement includes " forward-looking statements " that involve risks,

uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control that

could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in

the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements

concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other

information that is not historical information. We undertake no obligation to

publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent

events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.

 

CONTACT: Contact (media): Anders Hedegaard, President & CEO,

Telephone:+45-23-20-30-64

Ticker Symbol: (:BVNKF),(:BAVA),(:BVNKF)

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