VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) (TSX: VBV) (“VBI”) today provided an update on its cytomegalovirus (“CMV”) Phase I clinical study, which is assessing the safety and tolerability of VBI’s vaccine candidate to prevent congenital CMV infection. Congenital CMV infection is a leading cause of birth defects, affecting more live births than Down syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome, making it a key public health priority.

Upon review of all safety data up to one month after second immunizations in VBI’s prophylactic CMV Phase I clinical study, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) unanimously recommended the continuation of the study without modification. No safety signals have been detected, suggesting VBI’s CMV vaccine candidate is safe and well-tolerated.

Additionally, all participants in the study have now successfully received the third and final immunization in the series. Further vaccine immunogenicity and safety follow-up are ongoing.

An interim safety and immunogenicity report, based on blood samples collected from participants one month post-second vaccination, is expected mid-year 2017.

About the Phase I Clinical Study Design

The Phase I study is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of VBI’s CMV vaccine candidate in approximately 125 healthy CMV-negative adults. The study will also determine the vaccine immunogenicity by measuring levels of vaccine-induced CMV neutralizing antibodies, which may prevent CMV infection.

Additional information, including a detailed description of the study design, eligibility criteria, and investigator sites, is available at ClinicalTrials.gov using identifier NCT02826798.

About the Data and Safety Monitoring Board

The DSMB was formed with key opinion leaders, a statistician, and experts in safety in clinical studies of this nature. The board is an arms-length committee that monitors the clinical study to assess safety data at various time points during the clinical study, and to recommend to VBI whether to continue, modify, or stop the study.

About CMV

CMV can cause serious disease in newborns when a mother is infected during pregnancy. Each year, approximately 5,000 U.S. infants will develop permanent problems due to CMV, which can include deafness, blindness, and mental retardation. CMV affects more live births than Down syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome, making it a key public health priority and a strong candidate for recommended universal vaccination and reimbursement.