Press Release Details

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug 07, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX) announced today that the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded a two-year $3.25 million grant to continue development of a novel universal influenza vaccine for controlling seasonal and emerging pandemic flu strains. The research at Dynavax, funded by the NIH starting in 2003, focuses on a new vaccine that incorporates a second- generation TLR9 agonist and the conserved influenza antigen nucleoprotein (NP). The new grant, U01AI074578, is directed toward advancing preclinical research into IND-enabling studies and product development.

According to Dr. Gary Van Nest, vice president, preclinical research, "The grant is another important endorsement of our approach. We believe that NP represents a unique vaccine component that when conjugated to our second- generation TLR9 agonist can address the limitations of seasonal flu vaccines as well as represent an important advance in the development of a universal vaccine to protect against a pandemic flu outbreak. With this grant, and based on strong preclinical data, we are planning to move into clinical development in 2008."

Dr. Van Nest said that Dynavax has shown in mice that its novel vaccine can provide strong, cross-strain protective immunity. He also indicated that mouse and primate models had shown that the novel vaccine may be used in conjunction with standard vaccine to enhance immunogenicity and provide dose sparing of traditional flu vaccine components. Dynavax is also using another conserved influenza antigen, the extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) linked to a second-generation TLR9 agonist to generate broadly reactive antibody responses against influenza.

Dr. Van Nest continued, "Immune responses against both NP and M2e conjugates have the ability to kill virus infected cells that evade the protection provided by the standard vaccine. This is key when seasonal flu vaccines do not match the flu strains that emerge each year or especially if a completely new pandemic strain emerges."

Dynavax reported preclinical data in October 2006 at the Influenza Vaccines for the World Conference in Vienna, Austria, and in June 2007 at the Options for the Control of Influenza VI conference in Toronto, Canada.

About Dynavax

Dynavax Technologies Corporation discovers, develops, and intends to commercialize innovative TLR9 agonist-based products to treat and prevent infectious diseases, allergies, cancer, and chronic inflammatory diseases using versatile, proprietary approaches that alter immune system responses in highly specific ways. Our TLR9 agonists are based on immunostimulatory sequences, or ISS, which are short DNA sequences that enhance the ability of the immune system to fight disease and control chronic inflammation. Our product candidates include: HEPLISAV, a hepatitis B vaccine in Phase 3; TOLAMBA, a clinical ragweed allergy immunotherapy; a therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Phase 2 and for metastatic colorectal cancer in Phase 1; and a therapy for hepatitis B also in Phase 1. Our preclinical asthma and COPD program is partnered with AstraZeneca. Our preclinical work on a vaccine for influenza is partially funded by the NIH. Our colorectal cancer trial and our preclinical hepatitis C therapeutic program are funded by Symphony Dynamo, Inc. While the NIH and SDI provide program support, Dynavax has retained rights to seek strategic partners for future development and commercialization. For more information, please visit http://www.dynavax.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements about the potential of Dynavax's flu vaccine to control seasonal and emerging pandemic flu strains and address the limitations of seasonal flu vaccines, and plans to initiate and timing of clinical trials of Dynavax's flu vaccine. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Dynavax's business including, difficulties or delays in research and development, initiation and completion of preclinical and clinical studies, issues arising in the regulatory process, our ability to obtain additional financing to support our operations, and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of Dynavax's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

SOURCE Dynavax Technologies Corporation

Shari Annes, Corporate Communications of Dynavax Technologies Corporation,
+1-650-888-0902, sannes@dynavax.com

http://www.dynavax.com

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