DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS SUCCESSFULLY
ENGINEERED AND TESTED A NOVEL INTRANASAL COVID-19 VACCINE
FORMULATION IN ANIMALS
Vancouver, BC,
Canada, September 20th,
2021 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- Defence Therapeutics
Inc. CSE:DTC, USOTC:DTCFF ("Defence"
or the "Company"),
a biotechnology company working on cancer therapeutics and
infectious disease vaccines is pleased to announce the development
of a "non-injectable" second generation COVID vaccine,
AccuVAC-IN002, for intranasal delivery.
Vaccination
against SARS2-COVID was initially efficient at slowing down viral
spreading across the globe. However, the arrival of new and more
infectious strains is challenging to current vaccines for two main
reasons. First, detected mutations can escape generated humoral
responses. Second, researchers found that people infected with the
Delta strain carry 1260 times more virus in their nasal cavity
compared to the original version of the coronavirus. The latter
point is extremely important as current vaccination strategies do
not ensure protection from this airborne transmission at mucosal
sites, which represent the initial site of infection. This means
that vaccinated individuals can still be infected and possibly
develop life-threatening symptoms.
"With
Defence's new AccuVAC-IN002 formulation, we are able to induce both
IgA and IgG antibody responses both systemically and at mucosal
sites. This would ensure a transmission-blocking effect that will
not only halt initial infection but will also ensure close to a
100% blockade in viral shedding" says Mr. Plouffe, the CEO of
Defence Therapeutics. In addition, our new AccuVAC-IN002
formulation can be further developed to become a "universal"
vaccine capable of targeting 4-8 strains simultaneously, which
would provide effective protection against all known variants and
future emerging strains, he added.
The AccuVAC-IN002 is
one of the vaccines designed and developed by Defence to advance
against the SARS-COVID virus. The current progression of the
SARS-COVID virus suggest that we may be facing a new influenza-like
seasonal virus requiring a new vaccine every 6-12 months. Defence
is therefore dedicated to fight this airborne disease and any other
emerging pathogens through its vaccine development
program.
In addition to its
vaccine development for infectious disease, as previously announced
on May 25, 2021 press release, Defence is advancing on its DC
vaccine program against cancer with its AccuVAC-D001. Development
and additional news on the DC vaccine for cancer will be released
in the near future. Defence and its AccumTM
technology platform
positions the Company on the path for future development of
universal therapeutic vaccines for cancer and infectious
diseases.
Additional
Information:
The Company makes no
express or implied claims that it has developed a vaccine to treat
COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.
Dr. Moutih Rafei,
Defence's VP Research and Development, has reviewed and approved
the scientific disclosure contained in this press
release.
Dr. Rafei has a PhD in
Experimental Medicine from McGill University and received his
post-doctoral training at Université de Montréal. He is an
immuno-oncologist who specializes in the fields of T-cell
development, stem cell biology, cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune
diseases.
About
Defence:
Defence
Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on
engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its
proprietary platform. The
core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM
technology,
which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in
their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy
and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as
cancer and infectious diseases.
For further
information:
Sebastien Plouffe,
President, CEO and Director
P: (514)
947-2272
Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com
www.defencetherapeutics.com
Cautionary
Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information
This release includes
certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements".
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical
facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects
to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical facts and are
generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects",
"plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates",
"projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur.
Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements include
regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of
capital and financing, and general economic, market or business
conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on
the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on
the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable
securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update
these forward-looking statements in the event that management's
beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should
change.
Neither the
CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the
policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.