HONOLULU, July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaii Biotech, Inc., a Hawaii based biopharmaceutical company, announced today that its West Nile vaccine protected 100 percent of test animals from both illness and death when challenged with lethal, human West Nile virus. In contrast, 77 percent of the control animals died, and survivors showed signs of illness.

The study was conducted by Dr. Robert B. Tesh, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, a leading researcher in viral vaccines. Full results, including serological and immunological responses, will be presented at the Viral Vaccine Meeting in Barcelona, Spain in October.

"The results of the study are quite promising," said Dr. Robert B. Tesh. "Since the groups at highest risk for severe West Nile virus infections are the elderly and the immune compromised, a non-infectious (sub-unit) vaccine would seem preferable."

Hawaii Biotech's genetically engineered, sub-unit vaccine technology represents a non-infectious, potentially safer alternative to traditional live virus vaccines. Live virus vaccines have a real risk of causing severe disease in some people. Hawaii Biotech believes that its approach, which combines modern adjuvants with genetically engineered viral proteins that cannot cause viral disease, confers a substantial safety advantage.

"We are encouraged by the positive results in this well-established model conducted by an internationally recognized collaborator," said David G. Watumull, CEO of Hawaii Biotech. "The study results validate Hawaii Biotech's vaccine approach, a platform we believe can be applied to a number of other similar diseases, including dengue fever, Hepatitis C, and malaria."

A well-validated model of human West Nile disease, the golden hamster, developed at the University of Texas Medical Branch, was tested. The study consisted of three groups of thirty animals each: one control group and two groups immunized with Hawaii Biotech vaccine formulations. Each group was vaccinated on day 1, boosted on day 33 (controls were vaccinated and boosted with adjuvant only), and then challenged 17 days post boost with a lethal dose of live West Nile virus. In total, 23 of the 30 control animals died. The surviving control animals showed signs of disease. All 60 animals in Hawaii Biotech's two vaccine groups remained alive and healthy, with no signs of illness at any time during the study.

Virtually unknown in the U.S. prior to 1999, the West Nile virus is now permanently established in much of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 4,156 cases of West Nile with 284 deaths were reported in 2002. It is estimated that about 1 of every 150 persons infected with West Nile virus will develop encephalitis, meningitis, or a poliomyelitis-like syndrome.

Hawaii Biotech, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research and development of human pharmaceuticals, including vaccines and a class of anti-inflammatory small molecules with applications in cardiovascular disease.

For further information, please contact Kristina Ebenius, +1-323-202-1049, kristina.ebenius@edelman.com, or Lisa Waters, +1-323-202-1051, lisa.waters@edelman.com, both of Edelman, for Hawaii Biotech, Inc.