Tampere, Finland – Vactech Oy (Vactech), a biotechnology company focused on development of vaccines for Type 1 Diabetes and other immune mediated diseases, today announced that the Canadian Intellectual Office has issued CA Patent 2,376,923 covering prevention of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and other non-polio enterovirus diseases by eliminating the risk effect of enterovirus infections.

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the prevention of Type 1 diabetes and other non-polio enterovirus diseases by a novel vaccination regime based on extensive immunisations by currently available oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and/or by new non-polio enterovirus vaccines.

The invention provides prevention of Type 1 diabetes mellitus and other non-polio enterovirus diseases by eliminating the risk effect of enterovirus infections. This is achieved by a novel immunisation regime, which is based on the induction of systemic and local mucosal Th1-type T-cell immunity by oral poliovirus vaccinations and optionally induction of Th2-type humoral immunity by a new enterovirus vaccine which induces neutralizing antibodies against appropriate enterovirus serotypes. These two regimes can be used separately or in combination.

"This patent completes the protection of Vactetch's background IPR on the preventive Type 1 Diabetes vaccine in Northern America. The process has been long, 14 years from the filing to the grant, but we are happy. However, we have not finished. Based on new research findings we have filed more specific continued applications on T1D vaccine and diagnostics. The aim is to strengthen in content and expand in time our patent portfolio both in US and EU", said Raimo Harju, CEO of Vactech.

About Vactech

Vactech develops and licenses vaccines and novel technologies for vaccines and diagnostics with a pipeline of early stage product candidates focused on Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Asthma & Allergy and diagnostics.

Vactech’s flagship project is a patented enterovirus based preventive Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) vaccine, similar to the widely used enterovirus vaccine against polio. The vaccine is a traditional inactivated vaccine and it has been proved to be safe and effective in mice. In addition, Vactech’s IMAVAC™ product line uses Virus Like Particle (VLP) technology which is essential for other vaccines, immunomodulators and diagnostic applications.

Vactech is a privately owned company. We have a track record of collaboration with big pharma on the level of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). We consider ourselves as an attractive investment target for those that believe in and want to grow with our mission.

For more information contact:

Please see the company's website at www.vactech.fi for additional information or contact:

Raimo Harju, CEO