Intercell Supports the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Recommendations of CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

/PRNewswire/ -- Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) today announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to update its previous recommendations and include IXIARO, a new Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine for travelers to countries in Asia where the disease is endemic, as well as Americans living in such high-risk areas.

ACIP made significant changes to their previous Japanese Encephalitis recommendations, last updated in 1993, noting that many more travelers are now visiting areas where the disease is endemic. In addition to recognizing the recent licensure of IXIARO, the committee's expanded recommendations urged clinicians to consider vaccinating travelers visiting endemic areas during the transmission season, even those on short-term visits, if they plan to spend a substantial amount of time outdoors. The panel also concluded that IXIARO, which is derived from a well-established cell line and does not contain stabilizers or preservatives, has a lower risk of vaccine-associated adverse events than older Japanese Encephalitis vaccines.

IXIARO received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 30, 2009 on the basis of studies that showed the vaccine is highly immunogenic after only two doses. IXIARO has been shown to stimulate a long-lasting immune response and to be well tolerated. It is the only currently manufactured Japanese Encephalitis vaccine available in the United States. IXIARO was developed by Intercell AG; the rights to market and distribute the vaccine to the private sector in the United States are held by Novartis Vaccines.

"The consequences of contracting this disease can be devastating due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, making IXIARO a crucial preventive tool for those spending time in endemic areas. It is gratifying that the ACIP committee of the CDC has chosen to broaden its recommendations and to recognize the benefits of IXIARO," said Gerd Zettlmeissl, Chief Executive Officer of Intercell. "This underscores our commitment to serving the needs of the travelers' and of the military market and developing vaccines to address unmet needs."

The ACIP consists of 15 experts in fields associated with immunization who have been selected by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide advice and guidance on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. ACIP develops written recommendations for the routine administration of vaccines to children and adults in the civilian population. The ACIP is the only entity in the federal government that makes such recommendations.

About Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infection that strikes 30,000 to 50,000 individuals a year, causing 10,000 to 15,000 deaths (both probably an underestimate due to underreporting and misdiagnosis). Up to 50 percent of survivors have persistent neurological sequelae. Japanese Encephalitis is the leading cause of viral neurological disease and disability in Asia and the most important viral encephalitis in Asia. The disease is most common in several developing countries in Asia, including India and China. As there is no specific treatment for JE, health care experts recommend vaccination as the only highly effective protection for the travelers and military personnel who live in or travel to areas where the virus circulates.

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