Prepared By R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  07/07/2010
 
Dynavax Technologies Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Commission File Number:  001-34207
 
Delaware
  
33-0728374
(State or other jurisdiction of
  
(IRS Employer
incorporation)
  
Identification No.)
 
2929 Seventh Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710-2753
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
(510) 848-5100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

 
Item 8.01.    Other Events
 
On July 7, 2010, Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Dynavax) issued a press release titled "Dynavax Initiates First Human Trial in Universal Flu Vaccine Program." A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
(d) Exhibit
Exhibit No.        Description
99.1        Press Release, dated July 7, 2010, titled "Dynavax Initiates First Human Trial in Universal Flu Vaccine Program."
 

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
           
Dynavax Technologies Corporation
 
 
Date: July 07, 2010
     
By:
 
/s/    Michael S. Ostrach

               
Michael S. Ostrach
               
Vice President
 
 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.

  
Description

EX-99.1
  
Press Release, dated July 7, 2010, titled "Dynavax Initiates First Human Trial in Universal Flu Vaccine Program."
DC9042.pdf -- Converted by SEC Publisher 4.2, created by BCL Technologies Inc., for SEC Filing

Exhibit 99.1

DYNAVAX

DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES
2929 Seventh Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710

  Contact:
Michael Ostrach
Vice President and Chief Business Officer
510-665-7257
mostrach@dynavax.com

DYNAVAX INITIATES FIRST HUMAN TRIAL IN UNIVERSAL FLU VACCINE PROGRAM

Berkeley, CA – July 7, 2010 – Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX) announced today the first human clinical trial in its Universal Flu vaccine program. The Phase 1 trial, which began vaccinating subjects in late June, will assess the safety and immunogenicity of N8295, the novel component of Dynavax’s Universal Flu vaccine candidate. Approximately 40 subjects, divided into three dose groups, will receive two immunizations of N8295, one month apart. N8295 is a fusion protein comprised of NP and M2e, two highly conserved influenza antigens covalently linked to Dynavax’s proprietary second-generation TLR9 agonist. Dynavax expects to report data by year-end 2010.

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. is committed to supply influenza vaccine for Dynavax’s clinical trials under a worldwide supply and option agreement signed in 2008. Novartis has an option to negotiate a joint development and commercialization agreement for Dynavax’s Universal Flu vaccine and is obligated to provide commercial supplies of its vaccine once clinical proof-of-concept has been established. A clinical study to demonstrate proof-of-concept data is planned for 2011.

Dynavax’s Universal Flu Vaccine is designed to offer protection against divergent influenza strains as well as to increase the efficacy of a standard trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Preclinical data have confirmed the expected immunogenicity and mechanistic effects of the vaccine candidate’s novel components. The production of cytotoxic T-cells by NP and cytotoxic antibodies by M2e have been demonstrated in preclinical studies, as has an increase in neutralizing antibodies provided by a co-administered inactivated influenza vaccine. A GLP toxicity study demonstrated that this Universal Flu vaccine candidate is well-tolerated.

About Dynavax's Universal Flu Vaccine

Standard annual flu vaccines are designed to provide protection against the three strains of the influenza virus that are predicted to be most prevalent in an upcoming flu season. As such, these vaccines do not provide protection against divergent strains that emerge unexpectedly.

– more –


Dynavax's novel Universal Flu vaccine is designed to offer protection against divergent strains as well as increase the efficacy and potentially reduce the dose of standard flu vaccine. This unique approach is based on combining two highly conserved antigens and Dynavax's proprietary second-generation TLR9 agonist with standard flu vaccines:

·      Two highly conserved antigens NP and M2e offer protection against divergent strains
 

Dynavax's Universal Flu vaccine includes two conserved antigens, NP and M2e, which are present in all flu strains. NP, or nucleoprotein, is highly conserved across human and animal strains, while M2e, the extracellular domain of the matrix protein, is conserved but with some variations among species. NP provides cytotoxic T-cell protection and M2e offers protective antibodies for protection against divergent strains. Conventional flu vaccines do not induce a response to these antigens.

  · Standard flu vaccine

Dynavax's Universal Flu vaccine combines the conserved antigens NP and M2e linked to the Company's proprietary TLR9 agonist and the standard trivalent flu vaccine to produce neutralizing antibodies. The Company's proprietary component (N8295) could be combined with any standard flu vaccine, including standard trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) and emerging strains such as H5N1 or H1N1.

About Dynavax

Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops novel products to prevent and treat infectious diseases. The Company's lead product candidate is HEPLISAVTM, an investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine designed to enhance protection more rapidly and with fewer doses than current licensed vaccines. For more information visit www.dynavax.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements related to the anticipated timing for the availability of data from the initial clinical trial in our universal flu vaccine program and for the proof-of-concept clinical study and the potential features of the vaccine. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including whether results of completed studies can be replicated in human studies, difficulties or delays in discovery or development, initiation and completion of preclinical or clinical studies, the results of those studies and the impact of those results on the initiation and completion of subsequent studies and issues arising in the regulatory process; achieving our Novartis agreement objectives; our ability to obtain additional financing to support our operations; and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of our current periodic reports filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

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