Inviragen receives two grants to develop dengue and chikungunya vaccines

Inviragen, a biotechnology company developing vaccines to protect against infectious diseases worldwide, announced today that it has received two grants totaling $488,958 through the United States government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program. The grants were awarded to Inviragen for the Company's ongoing programs to develop vaccines against dengue and chikungunya viruses. Inviragen is currently testing its dengue vaccine, DENVax, in two Phase 1 human clinical trials, while the Company's experimental chikungunya vaccine is undergoing preclinical testing.

“The funds will permit Inviragen to accelerate our clinical and preclinical vaccine studies.”

"The Department of Health and Human Services recognized the potential public health impact of Inviragen's dengue and chikungunya vaccines," stated Dr. Dan Stinchcomb, Inviragen's CEO. "The funds will permit Inviragen to accelerate our clinical and preclinical vaccine studies."

The Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program was established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010 to provide tax credits and grants to small biotechnology firms (as defined by those with 250 employees or fewer) that show significant potential to produce breakthrough medical therapies, create or sustain jobs, and increase U.S. competitiveness.