Info

VectorLogics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a privately-held biotechnology firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company was founded in 1998 by David T. Curiel, MD, PhD. VLI is focused on developing products for the treatment of cancer and liver diseases using attenuated viral delivery systems. The cancer products are highly-selective (recognizing cancer cells - avoiding normal cells) and highly-specific (active in cancer cells - inactive in normal cells). Such products should, in the words of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), be "radically cleaner, more precise therapies." The first product candidate that VLI has under development is an oncolytic virotherapeutic for the treatment of ovarian and brain cancer. This treatment uses a conditionally replicative, targeted adenovector and is delivered to the tumor region to kill the cancer cells. Outstanding proof of principle has already been seen in ovarian cancer and gliomas predicting that the increased efficacy and safety of our unique patented approach will yield similar success in the treatment of other cancers. VLI expects to receive an IND allowance to commence Phase I trials in Q1 2007 for the ovarian cancer indication using regional delivery of this drug candidate. VLI's second product candidate is an orally-administered hepatitis therapeutic vaccine based on attenuated avian virus (IBDV) that causes no disease in humans. A phase II clinical trial conducted in Hungary reported the safety and efficacy of IBDV superinfection therapy in 42 acute hepatitis patients (HBV and HCV). IBDV showed stable, significant clinical improvement and long-lasting remission in a phase I clinical trial in decompensated chronic hepatitis patients as well. Superinfection therapy combined with oral delivery of this novel drug candidate has the potential to treat chronic HBV and HCV hepatitis, and other viral pathogens affecting about 600 million people worldwide. The first product will capitalize on the absence of effective treatment for chronic hepatitis. VectorLogics plans to design and conduct Phase II and Pivotal clinical trials to develop and test the IBDV superinfection therapy in chronic hepatitis patient non-responsive to conventional (IFN-based) treatments.