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Wonder
02-09-2009, 12:35 PM
Been holding this one for longer term.
News Out today should help

Mymetics Corporation Announces Success of Its Preventive Vaccine Against HIV/AIDS and Commencement of European Phase 1 Human Clinical Trials

Mymetics (www.mymetics.com) Corporation (OTCBB:MYMX), announced today that on February 11, in Montreal, at the 16th world Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Dr. Sylvain Fleury, Chief Scientific Officer of Mymetics, will present the results of a second series of preclinical trials that confirm the success of its preventive vaccine against HIV/AIDS. To date, these results are the most promising and advanced in the world. Further, they confirm a decisive path towards the prevention of transmitting HIV/AIDS. These results are of such significance that the European authorities have authorised a phase 1 clinical trial on humans.

It is widely recognized that certain people exist that are naturally resistant to the HIV/AIDS infection and in particular an identified group of prostitutes in Kenya and Cambodia. These identified prostitutes have been followed for the past 13 years and have provided recurrent blood samples. Despite their exposure to multiple HIV positive individuals, these women remain HIV negative. The explanation for this natural resistance is well known; these prostitutes are protected by antibodies present in their vaginal secretions.

The same resistance has been noted in males who have naturally occurring neutralizing antibodies in their rectal secretions.

Mymetics has concentrated their research towards replicating this natural protection and to develop similar antibodies qualified as mucosal secretions (IgA antibodies in the vaginal secretions) as compared to blood antibodies (IgG antibodies circulating in the blood).

Thus, the preventive vaccine formulation developed by Mymetics specifically induces the production of IgA antibodies, whereas all the other vaccine antidotes are aimed at the production of IgG antibodies in the blood. It is this fundamental difference in approach that explains the success of Mymetics' research compared to the announced failures of other research laboratories. As a result, Mymetics' vaccine stimulates a defence mechanism effectively blocking entry of the virus at the mucosal level, the gateway to entry and infection of humans.

The completion of the preclinical tests (on the monkeys) is achieved through a viral test (viral challenge) for which Mymetics chose the Chinese Macaqua Mulata species of monkey as they most closely resemble humans in virus transmission. One group is vaccinated and the other is used as reference group. Then, the two groups receive several doses of the virus, the goal being to establish that the vaccinated group resists the infection and that the non-vaccinated group becomes infected by the virus.

The results of the recent viral test, carried out in Beijing, could not have been more compelling: the vaccinated group either proved 100% resistant to the virus or remained at a non detectable level, whereas the non-vaccinated group were completely infected.

Moreover, the results obtained in July 2008 at the Institute of Animal Laboratory Science (ILAS) of the Chinese Academy of Science were verified by an independent laboratory, the Center for Diseases Control (CDC) of Beijing. The CDC employed a measurement technique five times more precise than that of the ILAS. The high degree of specificity and quality of these second series of results confirming the original observations is all the more impressive.

Based on these most promising results and the excellence of the research, the Belgian Health Ministry, acting on behalf of the European Authority, authorised expeditiously (16 days) the approval to commence Phase I Human Clinical Trials.

In order to avoid the potential criticism of the low number of animals in the two test groups, Mymetics presented its results to Prof. Chris Miller of the University of California (UC Davis), whose laboratory is considered by the scientific community the best center of preclinical studies on macaques. Dr. Miller is the Leader of the Virology and Immunology Unit at the California Regional Primate Research Center (CRPRC) and has been part of the simian AIDS research effort at the CRPRC since 1987. Qualifying their results as excellent, Dr. Miller confirmed his agreement for his laboratory to complete further studies on groups of macaques.

Through its heterologous viral challenge results, unique in the world, Mymetics affirms its position of leader in the mucosal approach of producing neutralizing antibodies, whereas the research of the other laboratories is almost singularly concentrated on blood antibodies. The objective of the new study with Dr. Chris Miller is to obtain indisputable results and to accelerate research and human clinical trials of Mymetics' vaccine.

About Mymetics

Mymetics' corporate objective is to develop vaccines and therapies to prevent and treat the effects of certain retroviruses and other infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Malaria. In Q4 2008 Mymetics commenced Phase 1 Human Clinical trials of their HIV/AIDS preventative vaccine candidate which showed extremely promising results (see Press Release September 16, 2008) as well as continuing Mymetics' long term Malaria vaccine in Phase Ib Human Clinical trials in Tanzania. Mymetics' long-term growth strategy includes the diversification of its pipeline by the development or the acquisition of new prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines.

Wonder
03-09-2009, 11:49 AM
The rumor is this MYMX will possibly be bought out for $1-3 a share in the future.
Pretty safe investment IMO.

Mymetics Corporation Acquires Virosome Biologicals B.V.
This Acquisition Advances Mymetics' Corporate Strategy to Expand Its Vaccine Portfolio and Enhances Mymetics' Implementation of the Virosome Delivery Technology
NYON, Switzerland, March 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mymetics Corporation (www.mymetics.com) (OTCBB:MYMX) announced today that it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of Bestewil Holding B.V., parent company of Virosome Biologicals B.V., from Norwood Immunology Limited (LSE:NIM) for cash and considerations.

Virosome Biologicals B.V. is engaged in the development of a proprietary vaccine delivery platform (virosome) as well as intranasal influenza and RSV vaccines. Under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, Antonius Stegmann, co-founder and CSO of Virosome Biologicals B.V, will remain CSO of Virosome Biologicals B.V.

The acquisition of Virosome Biologicals will expand Mymetics' current portfolio of vaccines which includes an HIV/AIDS early stage preventative vaccine in a Phase I Human Clinical trial in Belgium, and a Malaria vaccine currently in a Phase Ib Human Clinical trial in Tanzania. The acquisition brings two collaborations, an Influenza vaccine in a Phase II Human Clinical trial in collaboration with the Solvay Group (NYSE Euronext SOLB.BE), and in collaboration with MedImmune, a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine under pre-clinical testing used to treat a major cause of respiratory illness in young children, as well as Bestewil's Herpes Simplex Virus development, for a total pipeline of three vaccine candidates.

The closing will take place on April 1, 2009. The purchase price of EUR7.5 million (US$9.4 million) includes cash of EUR5 million, a secured 36 month 5% convertible and redeemable note of EUR2.5 million, as well as options with a value of approximately US$9.6 million. Conversion will be at the lesser of US$0.80 or the issue price of the shares of common stock that the Corporation intends to issue after the closing date for the purpose of raising the necessary funds to repay the bridge loan. Further consideration to be paid after completion of the Share Purchase Agreement includes:



* A payment of up to EUR2.8 million in cash in the event of a
license agreement being signed with a third party to access
Bestewil intellectual property and know how in the field of RSV
(Respiratory Syncytial Virus) ("RSV Licence:),
* A payment of up to EUR3 million in cash should Solvay
Pharmaceuticals B.V., a member of the Solvay Group (2006 sales US$3
billion), commence a Phase III clinical trial for its intranasal
influenza vaccine,
* A payment of 50% of Mymetics net royalties received from a RSV
License, payable in cash to Norwood,
* A 25% share of any net amounts received by Mymetics from a third
party HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) License based upon Bestewil
intellectual property payable in cash.

Further details may be found in the Share Purchase Agreement incorporated in the company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission on March 9, 2009.

"This second acquisition fits into our corporate strategy; it increases our vaccine portfolio from two to three vaccines, it enhances the virosome delivery methodology, and it strengthens our research and development team," stated Christian Rochet, CEO, Mymetics Corp. "The enlarged company will have increased research capabilities, an expanded intellectual property portfolio and a strong set of clinical trials in the field of immunology," continued Christian Rochet.

About Virosome Biologicals B.V.

Virosome Biologicals B.V., located in Leiden, Netherlands is focused on the development of virosome based vaccines. The Solvay influenza vaccine using a Virosome Biologicals adjuvant is currently in Phase II Human Clinical trials utilising Virosome Biologicals' virosome adjuvant.

On December 5th 2008 Virosome Biologicals B.V. signed a six month exclusive evaluation agreement for their virosome vaccine technology with MedImmune, an AstraZeneca subsidiary and recognized leader in vaccine research and development. Virosome Biologicals B.V. agreed to an exclusive six month collaborative research programme with MedImmune in exchange for an exclusivity fee and the reimbursement of certain costs associated with identified MedImmune vaccine candidates and the Virosome Biologicals B.V.'s virosome technology.

Virosome Biologicals have also developed a proprietary method of producing virosomes that maintain an excellent membrane fusion activity, a key component in the initial stimulation of the immune system. Virosome Biologicals' adjuvanted virosome technology is licensed to Solvay for the development of intranasal influenza vaccines, with milestones and royalties payable to Virosome Biologicals as the clinical development and commercialisation progresses. Solvay is responsible for clinical trials as well as the development and commercialisation of the vaccine and has successfully concluded a Phase I Human Clinical trial thus triggering a milestone payment to Virosome Biologicals. The vaccine was found to be safe and well tolerated. Solvay is continuing to test the vaccine in Phase II Human Clinical trials.

About Mymetics

In February 2009 Mymetics announced the success of its pre-clinical HIV/AIDS viral challenge. The proven success of their vaccine in primates could not have been more compelling: the vaccinated group either proved resistant to the virus or remained at a non detectable level, whereas the non-vaccinated animals were completely infected. This success further prompted Mymetics to apply to the competent European regulatory authority to authorize the commencement of the Phase I Human Clinical Trials. Approval was granted in December 2008.

Mymetics Malaria vaccine has completed a first round of Human Clinical trial Phases I and II on adults in Switzerland and in the U.K., for testing of an initial two-antigen formulation. A Phase 1b clinical trial has been launched in Tanzania to extend the protocol to children and teenagers in a naturally endemic area with results expected in Q3 2009. A new cycle of Phase I and II Clinical trials with five antigens is scheduled thereafter in Q1 2010.

The Mymetics Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5478

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by words such as "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "expects" and "hopes." The forward-looking statements are made based on information available as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Editors and investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to demand for the Company's products and services, our ability to continue to develop markets, general economic conditions, our ability to secure additional financing for the Company and other factors that may be more fully described in reports to shareholders and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Mymetics Corporation
Europe
Ernest Luebke, Chief Financial Officer
+41 22 363 1310
ernest.luebke@mymetics.com
North America
Anthony Jessop, Senior Vice President
+1 303-800-6606
anthony.jessop@mymetics.com



Source: GlobeNewswire (March 9, 2009 - 9:56 AM EDT)