Dynavax Technologies Corporation has met with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss its plans to resume development of Heplisav, the company's phase-3 investigational hepatitis B vaccine.

Dynavax proposed the continued clinical development of Heplisav in populations that are less responsive to current licensed hepatitis B vaccines, including adults over 40 years of age, individuals with chronic kidney disease, and other groups such as individuals infected with HIV or diagnosed with chronic liver disease. The FDA expressed a general agreement that these populations are appropriate for further clinical development, pending the review of the study protocols and additional supportive data.

Dynavax plans to submit this information to the FDA in August 2009 with a goal of having the agency remove the clinical hold in September 2009. The company is prepared to restart clinical trials in individuals with chronic kidney disease upon removal of the clinical hold.

Heplisav is a phase-3 investigational hepatitis B vaccine targeted for adults who are less responsive to current licensed hepatitis B vaccines, including adults over 40 years of age, individuals with chronic kidney disease (including end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, patients), and individuals infected with HIV or diagnosed with chronic liver disease (including hepatitis C virus).

Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops novel products to prevent and treat infectious diseases.