ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vaccinex, Inc. today announced the successful completion of a multicenter phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending-dose safety and tolerability study in adult patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A total of 50 patients were enrolled in 1 of 5 cohorts (1, 3, 6, 10, and 20 mg/kg) to determine the safety and tolerability of VX15/2503 when administered IV in a single dose. VX15/2503 is a first in class, monoclonal antibody discovered, characterized, and successfully tested by Vaccinex in preclinical models of Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease. VX15/2503 was found to be well tolerated at dose levels of up to 20 mg/kg with no reports of treatment-related serious adverse events. No maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined and no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. Preliminary data suggests that the half-life of a single dose of antibody is 21 to 23 days at the 20 mg/kg dose level, and that saturation of the SEMA4D target receptor lasted for approximately 155 days. Detailed study results will be published in a peer reviewed medical journal. A phase 2 clinical trial of the VX15/2503 antibody in Huntington’s Disease is planned to begin in the first half of 2015.

About Vaccinex Inc.
Vaccinex, Inc. is a privately held clinical-stage immunotherapy company engaged in the discovery and development of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease. Vaccinex utilizes its proprietary ActivMAb® Antibody Discovery Technology for rapid, mammalian cell-based antibody selection to build its antibody pipeline and in service to its biopharmaceutical partners. Compared to other selection technologies, ActivMAb® combines the advantages of rapid and sensitive selection by virus panning and cell sorting in one technology, with intrinsic selection of antibodies that are efficiently expressed and stable in mammalian cells. Vaccinex is based in Rochester, New York. For more information and to contact Vaccinex, visit www.vaccinex.com.