The MVA component of our vaccine has the potential to protect humans against smallpox as well as AIDS.
Recent MVA trials in non-human primates (monkeys) completed by Dr. B. Moss at the NIH in 2004 have confirmed that MVA is highly protective against smallpox virus challenge. MVA is an attenuated form of a smallpox virus that was developed near the end of the smallpox eradication program (1970's) in Germany for use in immuno-compromised humans. Given that current conventional smallpox vaccines have a high incidence of side effects, MVA has re-emerged as a significant candidate to become the smallpox vaccine of choice as it appears safer than current smallpox vaccines.
Additional studies will have to be conducted to prove that MVA is broadly effective against smallpox.
Protecting against AIDS and smallpox would be a tremendous competitive as well as health advantage that our vaccine may provide.