DNA production orders received

Vaccine biotechnology company Vical, from San Diego, CA, US, has received approximately $6m in orders for production of DNA vaccines under two subcontracts managed by SAIC-Frederick, for the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

Production will begin in the first half of 2004 in the company's existing Eastgate manufacturing facility, but the majority will be completed in the second half of 2004 in the company's new Pacific Center Court manufacturing facility. Additional orders may be placed under both subcontracts.

This is the first production order under a broad DNA vaccine manufacturing subcontract entered into in May 2003. Contract manufacturing of the DNA vaccines will be conducted in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in a 500l fermenter and related purification equipment being furnished as Government equipment (GFE) by the VRC in the Pacific Center Court facility, and in a 100l fermenter train in the Eastgate facility. The Eastgate facility has produced all supplies to date for the company's independent programs and for multiple manufacturing contracts.

'We are pleased with the progress in our manufacturing relationship with the VRC and SAIC-Frederick,' said Vijay Samant, Vical's president and ceo, 'and happy to report that we are on track with the progress of our Pacific Center Court manufacturing facility to meet the requested delivery schedule. Our contract manufacturing efforts are presently focused strictly on cGMP production of DNA vaccines for preclinical and clinical use, supporting the validation of our technology and the expansion of our production expertise.'