Celsion Says PLACCINE DNA-Based Vaccine Demonstrated Robust Response In Murine Model

PLACCINE DNA-based Vaccine Demonstrates Robust Response in Murine Model

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Sept. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ:CLSN), a clinical-stage company focused on DNA-based immunotherapy and next-generation vaccines, today provided an update on the progress made in the development of a DNA-based vaccine using its PLACCINE platform technology. Additional data from its completed proof-of-concept mouse challenge study confirms that a PLACCINE vaccine can produce robust levels of IgG, neutralizing antibodies, and T-cell responses.

The Company previously reported evidence of IgG, neutralizing antibody, and T-cell responses to its SARS-CoV-2 PLACCINE vaccines in normal mice. The additional data from its now completed mouse challenge study demonstrates the ability of the Company's PLACCINE vaccine to protect a SARS-CoV-2 mouse model in a live viral challenge. In the study, mice were vaccinated with a PLACCINE vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen from the D614G variant or the Delta variant, or a combination vaccine expressing both the D614G and Delta spike variants. The vaccination was administered by intramuscular injection on Day 0 and Day 14, followed by challenge with live SARS-CoV-2 virus on Day 42. All three vaccines, including the single and dual antigen vaccines, were found to be safe and elicited IgG responses and inhibited the viral load by 90-95%. The dual antigen vaccine was equally effective against both variants of the SARS CoV-2 virus.

"These challenge studies demonstrate that our PLACCINE vaccines are highly effective in protecting against the SARS-CoV-2 infection and represent a new class of vaccines that are highly effective and do not require a viral vector, a device or lipid nanoparticles for immunization," said Dr. Khursheed Anwer, executive vice president and chief science officer of Celsion.

Dr. Corinne Le Goff, president and chief executive officer of Celsion added, "These results are very encouraging, and I believe that the versatility of our multicistronic formulated plasmid DNA platform could allow the development of new vaccines of the future, combining efficacy and convenience. We look forward to additional data from this program in non-human primates in the second half of this year."