Intercell Acquires Manufacturing Plant in Scotland

3.03.2004, 10:42

Vienna/Livingston 03.03.2004 (PROTEXT/ots) - Intercell AGannounced the acquisition of a multi-purpose biologicsmanufacturing plant in Livingston, Scotland. Intercell will usethe manufacturing capacity for its late stage Japaneseencephalitis vaccine and for its vaccine pipeline resulting fromits bacterial Antigen Identification research and developmentprograms. Financial details will not be disclosed. The 30,000 square foot, state-of-the-art GMP facility wasformerly owned by Excell Biotech, and has only recently becomefully operational. The facility is designed according to themost up-to-date international standards for biologics productmanufacturing. Through the acquisition, Intercell will alsoaccess the skills of a team of highly experienced staff with abroad expertise in process development, manufacturing andquality management of viral and recombinant protein products. This strategically very important acquisition will allowIntercell to fully control the clinical and future commercialmanufacturing of our Japanese encephalitis vaccine, which isplanned to enter Phase III clinical trials in early 2005.Furthermore we will have the capabilities to develop and producein-house any future recombinant bacterial vaccines resultingfrom our innovative Antigen Identification Program, commentedIntercells Chief Operating Officer Gerd Zettlmeissl, who waspreviously responsible for Chiron Vaccines global manufacturingand quality operations before joining Intercell. Scotlands vibrant science community and excellent reputationfor the quality of its research and production was a bigincentive for Intercell to expand its operation to Edinburgh,emphasized Alexander von Gabain, Intercells Chief ExecutiveOfficer. Intercell has been supported by Scottish DevelopmentInternational and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian. About Intercell AG: Intercell is a biotechnology companyfocused on the development of vaccines against infectiousdiseases. Intercells lead products are, a therapeutic hepatitis Cvaccine, which has entered Phase II clinical testing in November2002, and a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis that hassuccessfully undergone a Phase II clinical study. A Phase IIIclinical study is planned for early 2005. Intercells proprietaryAntigen Identification Program has led to the discovery ofrelevant vaccine antigens against various bacterial infections.Such antigens will be the basis for Intercells own developmentprograms, and will also be successfully partnered with majorvaccine players in selected indications. Intercell hasdeveloped, in addition, a novel synthetic Immunizer (adjuvant)IC31 for vaccine formulations. IC31 is an important component ofIntercells vaccine technology. To date, Intercell has succeeded in raising venture capitaltotalling more than 100 million since becoming operational. For further information on Intercell visit: www.intercell.com Contact: Dr. Werner Lanthaler Chief Financial Officer IntercellAG Phone: +43-1-20620-125 mailto: wlanthaler@intercell.com

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