Arbovax recently finished primate trials of three potential DEN V2 vaccine candidates, using the WRAIR DEN V2 Live Attenuated virus Vaccine (LAV) as a positive control. The results are contained in a separate report but were extremely positive. Of particular note were the high levels of protective neutralizing antibodies produced by all the Arbovax candidates. The LAV by contrast had high levels of IgG antibody but significantly lower neutralizing antibodies. All three candidates exhibited superior protection data as compared to the LAV control with no adverse effects noted during the duration of the study. Arbovax is currently preparing mutants of the remaining three Dengue serotypes, 1,3 and 4 as well as converting production from C6/36 mosquito cells to the better tolerated SF9 cells.

Recent press has raised the level of interest in Chikungunya as a result of infections in Singapore, Australia and Italy. Chikungunya is an Alphavirus, same as Sindbis, so development is proceeding rapidly. Unlike Dengue, mice are a good model for Chikungunya pathogenesis. Arbovax is planning to initiate trials in mice in early 2011 in partnership with UNC Chapel Hill.

Our research has also shown a good correlation in the transmembrane domains between the other serotypes of Dengue as well as between Sindbis and Chikungunya.

DENGUE & West Nile Sequence

Chikungunya E2 TM Deletion Mutants

 Intellectual Property

Arbovax currently has an exclusive license for the following foundational issued patents as well (and their foreign counterparts) giving broad protection to the underlying technology:

Issued Patents:

These issued patents give Arbovax the freedom to apply their technology for viral modification to all arboviruses including alphaviruses, bunyaviruses and flaviviruses.
The potential exists for the development of follow-on intellectual property for specific vaccine formulations and uses for specific disease indications, further bolstering the proprietary position of the Company's technology.