The Daily News
May 6, 2009
By Tom Wilemon

The selection committee of the World Vaccine Congress put Vaxent--a startup venture in Memphis with only two employees--alongside pharmaceutical giants Merck & Co., Wyeth, Novartis and Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, as a finalist for the "Best Prophylactic Vaccine" award.

Vaxent received recognition for its StepNovA vaccine for Group A streptococcus, which causes infections as common as "strep throat" and as serious as "flesh eating disease." The vaccine was developed by Dr. James B. Dale, a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. It is being tested in Phase 2 early-stage human clinical trials.

This vaccine was one of six finalists for the award. The winner in its category was Merck's RotaTeq, a vaccine against Rotavirus.

Vaxent has received seed funding from Innova Memphis Inc., an early stage investment fund for technology and logistics firms in Memphis. Ken Woody, president of Innova Memphis, said he and Vaxent officials were surprised to learn the news the vaccine was a finalist. Established pharmaceutical companies usually dominate the finalist lists, which are selected by peer review.

"We literally had to call back and say, 'Are you sure you got the right company and the right group?'" Woody said. "They quickly verified it. We were stunned and obviously very pleased. I think its a very strong testament to how great we believe the product will be and then also great recognition for Dr. Jim Dale."

Dale is the company's chief scientific officer. His research into molecular pathogenesis of group A streptoccal diseases has been internationally recognized. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The other finalists for the "Best Prophylactic Vaccine" of the year award were Prevnar from Wyeth, rF1VPlague from DVC LLC, Ixiaro from Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and Pentacel from Sanofi Pasteur.