VLP Therapeutics Enters Collaboration with Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- VLP Therapeutics, LLC. ("VLP"), a Gaithersburg-based biotechnology company focusing on the research and development of therapeutic and preventative vaccines and next generation antibody agents based upon a novel and proprietary vaccine technology, today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Nagasaki University in Japan. The collaboration will facilitate VLP's research and development of dengue vaccine candidates.

"I am very excited with the partnership with the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Nagasaki University. The Institute is the only public institution supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan to conduct research on tropical diseases and authorized as the Collaborative Research Center on Tropical Disease.  The Institute's extensive research experience in particular in South East Asia will facilitate our effort in developing dengue vaccines" said Dr. Wataru Akahata, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VLP.  "Dengue is a major public health problem and affected population worldwide is growing very rapidly. It is critical that vaccines that can target all types of dengue is made available to these populations. This collaboration highlights our commitment to developing novel and innovative vaccines for diseases that currently lack treatments such as dengue and contributing to the improvement of global public health" Dr. Akahata continued.   

About Dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. According to the World Health Organization, it is the most rapidly spreading viral disease with an estimated 50-100 million dengue infections occurring each year and 3 billion people living in dengue epidemic countries. The number of countries reporting the disease has dramatically increased and over 100 incidents have recently been reported in Japan. There are no approved therapies to treat dengue and prevention is currently limited to vector control measures while a few vaccines are currently being developed.

About VLP Therapeutics
VLP was established in 2012 by a group of seasoned entrepreneurs based upon a novel, proprietary vaccine technology discovered by its co-founder Dr. Akahata.  Its vision is to combat the 21^st century global public health problems through revolutionary i-alpha VLP Technology, and the mission is to develop innovative medical treatment which transforms traditional vaccine and targeted antibody therapies to address global unmet medical needs. VLP is currently developing preventative and therapeutic vaccines as well as next generation of targeted antibody agents to treat cancer, infectious diseases, auto-immune diseases and neurological diseases. 

About the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University
The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, was established in 1942.  Its aim is to overcome tropical diseases, particularly infectious diseases, and the various health problems associated with them, in cooperation with related institutions, to strive for excellence in the following areas:

1. Spear-head research in tropical medicine and international health
2. Global contribution through disease control and health promotion in the tropics by applying the fruits of the research
3. Cultivation of the researchers and specialists in the above fields

For more information, please visit www.vlptherapeutics.com.

Contact: Kei Tolliver, 1-301-941-8111

SOURCE VLP Therapeutics, LLC.

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http://www.vlptherapeutics.com