December 13th, 2011 by dons1

Don’t follow the path of thousands of misguided women who self-diagnose and self-treat their suspected vaginal thrush infection. obviously, it seems, most or many women do not run into complications based on this self-treatment approach. be that as it may, even with success, it is not a wise choice to proceed in that fashion. It is easy to make the wrong diagnosis, and that is due to a range of factors that are probably unknown to the person.

Remember what they say about lawyers? “If you act as your own lawyer, you have a fool for a client.” this also pertains to people who act as their own doctors. the symptoms of a thrush infection are similar to the symptoms of other medical conditions. They’re all kind of vague and nonspecific. Visit your local clinic or your health care provider. this is the smart thing to do in order to know for sure what your infection is and how to treat it. You will find some good details on the fungal infection at thrush.

If you are a woman with a thrush infection, there are different actions you should avoid. the main activity that you will not be able to engage in while treating for a vaginal thrush infection is sexual intercourse. your vaginal tissues have already been compromised by the thrush infection and sexual intercourse could cause more damage. And then, there’s also the real possibility that it could hurt.

It’s important not to irritate this area more than it already is because there’s a very real chance you can spread the infection. If you are self-medicating, don’t use tampons for any reason. Use sanitary napkins instead. the problem with tampons is that they are very absorptive and could actually absorb the medication you are using to treat your vaginal thrush infection and hinder your treatment.

There is a group of antifungals called polyene antibiotics that help kill the fungal cells. Nystatin and Amphotericin B both are common medications that fall into this class. When faced with a life-threatening systemic thrush infection, Amphotericin B will commonly be used intravenously, but the side effects can be severe.

Systemic Candidiasis is life threatening and extreme. Esophageal, vaginal, and mucosal Candidiasis can be treated effectively with Nystatin. Azoles inhibit the 14-alpha demethylase, which produces ergosterol, thus resulting in the death of the fungal cell. Polyene anti-micotics are also ergosterol inhibitors and have a similar effect on the fungal cells. Fluconazole tablets is a potent antibiotic prescribed to combat the infection.

In addition to proper treatment for thrush infection, there are preventative measures that should be followed, especially if there has already been an infection. for instance, if your child has had oral thrush, then be sure to sterilize or wash anything that has come in contact with the child’s mouth.

To keep yourself free of a thrush infection if you are nursing an infant who has oral thrush, check your breast area and nipples each day. one preventative measure is to always wash the area with a diluted solution of live-culture yogurt. the best thing to do, as always, is simply visit your doctor and get their expert opinion on what you should do.

It has been the goal of this report to make you aware of the complexities of thrush infections. there is a lot more to them than just vaginal thrush infections that can be treated with a cream. an immune system that cannot do its job for whatever reason – cancer, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS – is the cause of these more severe forms of Candidiasis. People who have had an organ transplant are especially at risk because, in order to avoid the rejection of their new organ, they have to be put on a course of drugs that suppress their immune system. another group that falls into the at-risk classification is chemotherapy patients.

• Why an Untreated Yeast Infection can be Dangerous
• Important Yeast Infection Symptoms which You Ought to Know About
• Thrush Symptoms – Do You Suffer from These Symptoms?
• Treating Yeast Infection Discharge in Women
• Is Yeast Infection during Pregnancy dangerous?

Vaginal thrush is one of the most common problems that women have to deal with. Many women will experience this problem in their life. there are most likely more women than admit it that have dealt with this problem. A great number of these women are too shy to go in to speak with their doctor about this issue.

New research has now uncovered information on yeast cells identify and attach to human tissue. this new information is believed to be able to lead to the ability to develop a new class of medicines and vaccines. these should be able to fight off strains of fungal infections that have been drug-resistant and deadly.

Treating thrush at home is an attractive option to many women and this is fine if you have the right product or method for the treatment that you need. it is important that you have it confirmed that you are in fact dealing with vagina thrush so that you can make sure it is not a more serious condition.

Many times whenever women experience problems like this they assume that it must be the most common problem but it is important that you get it confirmed if this is the first time you have dealt with this problem. it is not difficult to get the condition confirmed or denied.

A simple vaginal exam and swab of vaginal discharge will enable you to find out if you are dealing with this problem or not. once the discharge from your vagina is tested you will be able to find out what is going on and how you should move forward with the treatment.

There are a lot of women that are not informed properly on this issue. They believe that this problem is caused because of intercourse. While intercourse could become less comfortable when you have this problem it is not a sexually transmitted infection.

As more women get information on vaginal yeast infection and how it is caused there are more women that are able to properly treat this condition. the more women that learn how to treat this problem, the less women will have to deal with recurrent vaginal problems.

Quick action is very important. there are many different options that you can use for treatment but some are more effective than others. it is very important that women take action before vaginal thrush would get out of control and make additional problems that could be more severe than what you are currently dealing with.

Vaginal thrush, also known as yeast infection or Candida, can be an incredibly irritating, embarrassing and, at times, painful, complaint to deal with.

• Irritating, because that itch-scratch-itch cycle can drive you crazy,
• Embarrassing, because if you’re in public, it’s not always appropriate to scratch the itch, and
• Painful, because amongst other conditions, thrush can lead to bladder infections and sore, swollen and broken tissue.

Over the years, I must have tried a few dozen thrush treatments. I’ve used creams, jellies, pessaries, pills, herbal and holistic treatments, most of which gave some temporary relief, but only one of which gave any lasting results.

So, how do you get thrush, what are the symptoms and how can you treat it?

Causes of Vaginal Thrush

We all have the thrush bacteria and Candida Albicans (the yeast that causes thrush) present in our body. under normal conditions, they hang out together, causing us no problems at all. however, if something should occur to create an imbalance which causes the level of yeast to rise, that’s when a thrush infection can occur.

There are many things which can cause this to happen, amongst them:

• The level of estrogen in the body being unusually high (e.g.; during pregnancy or menstruation)
• Using steroids or medication which contains steroids
• Having sexual contact with a partner who has the infection
• Diabetes – a high blood sugar level can bring on a bout of thrush
• The use of antibiotics
• Having a weakened immune system or being generally run down
• The use of an IUD (some say that IUD’s which contain copper more likely to cause thrush)
• The use of the contraceptive pill

Symptoms of Vaginal Thrush

The symptoms of vaginal thrush can literally keep you awake at night.

The maddening itch, which can drive you to utter distraction, is bad enough on its own. however, a really bad case of thrush can be made much worse if the inner and outer lips of the vulva become affected, resulting in sore, swollen and broken skin on the most sensitive of areas.

If this occurs, even the most simple and natural of bodily functions, e.g.; urinating, can cause extreme pain as the acid in the urine comes into contact with raw or broken skin.

It’s not unheard of for a person suffering from thrush to develop cystitis as well. If this occurs, a dull ache in the lower-back and an internal burning sensation when urinating are the tell-tale symptoms. these are sometimes accompanied by feelings of being shivery and weak.

Oftentimes, but not always, vaginal thrush is accompanied by a creamy white discharge, which if you’ve never had it before, can be quite alarming the first time you see it.

Thrush Treatment

If you’ve ever suffered from thrush, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a condition which, as soon as it develops, the only thing on your mind is how to get rid of it.

For most people, the first port of call is the pharmacy, where numerous over-the-counter treatments can be purchased in pill, cream or pessary form. (Incidentally, applying natural yogurt to the sore areas can bring pretty immediate relief, but unfortunately, it’s only temporary).

If none of the above help, or the thrush recurs, a visit to the doctor for an examination and some prescribed medication may be the solution.

However, if conventional medicine isn’t your preference, you may wish to investigate an holistic thrush treatment. This will not only treat the symptoms, but work on establishing, treating and eliminating the root cause of the infection.

Personally, this is the treatment that has suited me best, although I have to say that it took some time to get to grips with. having said that though, it is, without doubt, the only thrush treatment which (so far) appears to have prevented any recurrences of infection, which in my mind, makes it well worth having persevered with.

Q.  Doctor, I am a pregnant teenager. I deeply regret the fact that I let this pregnancy happen, but it did. and now I am determined to have the baby, and to bring it up to be a good and happy person. But I am surprised to discover that guys still find me attractive. in particular, one older man, who is around 27, has been trying to persuade me to have sex with him. Ordinarily, I would tell him no, but he has been saying something that has made me sit up and think. Doc, he claims that it is a well-known medical fact that if a woman has sex during pregnancy, that will make her labour and delivery much easier so that she will have little pain. Is that true?

A. I am sorry to hear that you have accidentally become pregnant, but it is good that you are approaching it in such a positive way.

Now, unfortunately, quite a few men have discovered that pregnant teenage girls can be a promising target for seduction. Males often like to have sex with expectant females because they know that there is no risk of any further pregnancy as the girl is already carrying a baby.

Also, some men find pregnant women attractive because their breasts may have got bigger as a result of changes in the hormones and because they may be having more copious vaginal secretions. I regret to tell you that a lot of guys try to take advantage of pregnant teenagers by spinning them this crazy story about sex being good for them and claiming that it will make labour easier.

Some men have developed a bizarre myth to the effect that washing the baby’s head in sperm is a good thing for the child. that is nonsense! The sperm does not really get anywhere near the child’s head. and there is no way that seminal fluid can be good for either mother or child.

Indeed, it is important to realise that having casual sex during pregnancy could easily expose both the baby and you to infection, and that might be serious health-wise. so please pay this guy and his tall tales no mind. I hope you are getting good ante-natal care. throughout the pre-natal period, please be guided by your midwife. I trust the birth will go well.

Q. I am a guy of 18, and I went to the doctor because of a soreness in my privates. He has diagnosed it as balanitis. What is that, please?

A. Well, the word ‘balanitis’ just means inflammation of the head or glans of the penis. this can be due to various causes. But the commonest is the fungal infection known as thrush, which many people in Jamaica refer to as yeast. I imagine that the doctor has given you some cream to use. and if the cream clears everything up, then that is fine. But please do not have sex until you are completely better.

Q. My mother has been very sick recently and the doctor is treating her, but she wants to go to St James to try out the miracle tree she has heard of. it is a long and difficult journey for her. Should I drive her there?

A I have heard many reports of the so-called miracle tree. Its leaves are widely sold in the Montego Bay area, and it is very popular in Pakistan and in parts of Africa. But I have not seen any convincing medical evidence that it really works, or any good information about whether it can do you any harm. also, there has to be a possibility that the leaves could clash with the medication which the doctor is giving your mom.

Your mother does not need to go to MoBay to find a miracle tree. If she wishes, she can just ask somebody to bring her some leaves from St James. However, I do not think that she should try them unless her doctor says that it is OK to do so.

Q. Doc, I desperately need your advice. I have been getting blisters on the outside of my vulva, particularly at period times. My partner and I have had various blood tests in recent months, but they have all come back negative. Do you think these blisters could be due to poor circulation?

A. No, I do not. I am sorry to tell you that recurrent blisters on the vulva may well be due to herpes. Next time you have an attack, you should go immediately to a doctor or clinic where they are knowledgeable about sexually transmitted infections. They will look at the blisters, and tell you whether you have herpes. good luck!

Q. Is it true that if a guy sucks on a girl’s nipples, that can change their shape permanently?

A.. No, there is no scientific evidence that this is so.

Q. I am a 19-year-old guy, and during the last few days, I have been terrified! this is because I have noticed that the skin of my organ seems to be splitting away from the head. Is this serious, Doc? and is it caused from sex?

A. Relax! it is most unlikely that anything serious is wrong. in many young men, the foreskin is still slightly stuck to the base of the glans (or ‘head’). it is held there by sticky pieces of tissue which are called adhesions.

During the teen years, the guy gets many more erections, and as a result, the adhesions gradually break down. When this happens, the foreskin gradually comes away from the glans. If you can afford it, I would like you to see a doctor so he can check out your organ. But the odds are that he will be able to tell you that everything is fine.

Q. good day. I am a 22-year-old lady, and I haven’t been having sex as regularly as I used to. My boyfriend is 40 and he has seemed a bit distant recently. The other night, he said, “We need to talk.” I said ok. then he told me that he thinks I am much smarter than he is, so he feels threatened. I believe his friends have a lot to do with this because they say that I have changed him. He used to be wild before he met me. Do you think he wants to leave?

A. Sorry, but when people say “we need to talk”, that usually does mean that they want out of the relationship. so I fear that you must prepare for him to go. you say that the two of you are not having much sex these days. that is probably a good thing because it is vitally important that you do not become pregnant at a time when your relationship is probably breaking up. in fact, I would advise you not to have sex with him again. When relationships are in trouble, sex often just confuses things. I wish you well.

Email questions to Doc at and read more in the Outlook Magazine tomorrow.

Learn how you can get rid of vaginal thrush quickly with various treatments and products

Recurring vaginal thrush can be a real plague to many women. besides for making you feel very uncomfortable, it may also interfere with your sex life. If you allow this problem to get out of hand you may also experience problems with your urination and other functions. make sure that you do not let your recurring vaginal thrush get out of hand.

The are other names that are used for vaginal thrush such as candidiasis, candida infection, or vaginal yeast infection. No matter what the doctors or you call it, you still know that it is a problem that can be irritating, painful and can stop you from living your life as you wanted to. There are many conventional treatments that are used to treat this problem but many of them primarily treat the symptoms that you experience and not the root cause of the problem.

Whenever you are dealing with recurring vaginal thrush, it is important that you treat what is causing because if you do not treat what it is causing it, you will keep experiencing it. that is why you continue to deal with this problem, because you have not been able to treat the root cause of the problem. Many people simply stop worrying about it when they no longer are experiencing pain and discomfort.

Some women do not want to go to the doctor when they are dealing with recurring vaginal thrush. The reason is not because they do not see a need to go to the doctor but simply because vaginal problems can be embarrassing and are extremely personal. If you want to cure your vaginal thrush at home, there are some different things that you can look into.

The best thing that you can do for yourself is to stop the stress. If you are continually stressed you are causing your body to get all out of whack. If you do not allow your body to have some rest, you may find yourself dealing with more serious problems. Stress is known to make problems and to make problems worse so do something each day that will allow you to reduce your stress levels.

Using apple cider vinegar is another trick for at home vaginal yeast infection treatment. All that you do is take a cup of the apple cider vinegar and put it into your bathwater. Soak in it for a little while and allow it to do its work. you will probably have to do more than one treatment to make sure that you actually get some relief.

While these are some good treatments you are not going to totally get rid of recurring vaginal thrush using them. you may experience some relief from the symptoms so you think that everything is good but it won’t be.  Getting additional help will be necessary.

How to Totally get Rid of Recurring Vaginal Thrush

The best way to get rid of this problem is simply by fixing the root cause. The reason that you keep dealing with this is because the harmful bacteria in your vagina have taken over and this is what causes these symptoms. What you need to do is boost your immune system so that you will be able to fight this off, eliminate as much harmful bacteria as possible and repopulate the good bacteria.

I understand that this all sounds very complex but all that you need to do is take a product that is called Alaczen. This is an all natural probiotic supplement that will boost your immune system and balance your yeast and bacteria levels. you can use this product to treat and to prevent recurring vaginal thrush.  Find out more in my Alaczen review.

Incoming search terms:

• find the root cause of recurring thrush

The vaginal yeast infection is a term you might be familiar with. it is common because most of the women experience it more than once in their life. Medically it is known as vulvo-vaginal candidacies.

The reason for this name is it effects usually occurs on vagina or at vulvo which is the female external organ and it is caused by the fungus called Candida. If one develop this infection you will observe red spots around the infected are. If it’s on vagina then you will feel pain during excretion or if you indulge in sexual activity.

It is very common among females. it does not necessarily happen to every women but it happens to most of them. it can happen multiple times due to uncertain reasons. it is more common in those females who have a weak immune system. it is less frequent in women who have reached the menopause or are not menstrually active yet.

Candida fungus usually lives on the skin and grows on the areas which are less airy and more warm. That is the reason why vaginal thrush usually appears around the vaginal area. it disappears within a week usually.

A lot of remedies are available for vaginal thrush. You can find tablets which are both eatable and insert able. You just have to put them in your vagina and they will do rest of the work.

If you are not comfortable with medication then you can try home remedies. You can put some drops of cold water in olive oil and softly apply it on the infection or you can use yogurt and put it on the infected area. both these remedies will help root off the fungus from the surface.

You don’t have to restrain from your partner during this infection because it is not contagious. You can easily enjoy your life while taking the proper medications. just keep the infected area clean and open for air. Try not to wear tight and small underwear’s, always go for loose and airy ones. this way you can help prevent it.

When the topic of dialog is vaginal thrush, no one seriously wants to participate. a lot females can have a yeast infection at some point in their lives. these infections are created by fungi that flourish in warm and damp places. The vagina has the right conditions for a Candida infection. Since so many females are impacted by this annoying problem, a yeast infection home remedy is usually easy to find.

Even though it is not usually life threatening, vaginal thrush can be extremely painful. Many women begin researching frantically for a yeast infection home remedy as soon as the symptoms present. these indications might include painful urination, swelling of the labia and a bright red rash. if you have ever had a yeast infection, you will recognize the pain and itching immediately. Since the symptoms do vary from person to person, you might also have raised red bumps around the vaginal area or even rashes on other parts of your body. Regardless of the symptoms, an infection is not pleasant to deal with for any woman.

For a simple yeast infection home remedy, you might be told to dip a tampon into plain yoghurt. The tampon is then inserted into the vagina twice daily. this is thought to destroy the fungi that cause vaginal thrush with active yoghurt cultures. Yoghurt is one of the oldest of the home remedies for any type of yeast infection and can also be applied directly to the skin. Eating yoghurt is also thought to strengthen the immune system, making it more difficult for infections to take control of the body. Yoghurt that is used to treat infection should be sugar and dye-free. Unflavoured yoghurt is always the best option for this use.

Drinking vinegar and bathing in vinegar is also considered a yeast infection home remedy. in severe cases of vaginal thrush, you can actually fill a bath with a warm water and vinegar solution. this is thought to help restore the pH balance on the skin. Vinegar is also effective as a soothing wipe for the labia. Sitting in the bath of vinegar and water is recommended for infections that include extreme itching. Vinegar cools the vaginal area and kills the fungi.

Another yeast infection home remedy is tea tree oil. this oil is very potent and can cause burning when applied directly to the infected skin. Tea tree oil should be diluted with water when used for cases of vaginal thrush. The best way to apply the oil to the infection is by soaking a tampon in the oil and water mixture. The tampon can then be inserted into the vagina and left for several hours. Tea tree oil is also excellent when applied to the external portions of the vagina. Always remember to dilute the oil with water before using it. Since most women will experience some form of Candida infection during their lifetime, it is a great idea to keep a list of remedies handy. Eating a healthy diet and avoiding nylon underwear are also simple ways to avoid these embarrassing infections.

Candida yeast infection is precipitated on account of an organism called candida albicans. This organism infects both men and women. This organism is generally current in our intestines in small quantities. and it isn’t harmful if the quantity is low. Nonetheless with hormonal imbalances, acidic ph stage, indigestion, stress and so on this organism can multiply rapidly and attain other parts of the body. with speedy multiplication this organism changes to a fungus form.and most people who have yeast infection don’t even find out about this infection until it turns into severe. when the issue turns into extreme it results in symptoms like itching within the vagina, vaginal odor, vaginal discharge, painful sex, rashes, indigestion, bloating, pimples and much more.

When individuals discover about this drawback they do not need to talk about this brazenly due to the embarrassment. Some individuals even really feel embarrassed to visit a doctor. and usually the doctors recommend a capsule for oral consumption or insertion into the vagina. these tablets present momentary relief to the sufferer. after a while the yeast infection may come back.a greater solution to do away with the vaginal thrush can be to take a look at a pure yeast infection treatment that treats the issue in a holistic manner. the candida yeast infection treatment with pure means would treat the issue from inside out. This implies the pure treatment will kill the overgrowth of this fungus inside the intestines as well as present relief to the exterior itching, pain, odor etc.

A pure treatment won’t have any unwanted effects and would eliminate the root explanation for the problem. Natural remedies present long-term answer to the problem. these pure remedies involve herbs, changes to the weight loss program and other life-style changes. If you actually are actually searching for a permanent candida yeast infection treatment you must attempt the pure vaginal thrush treatment. Listed below are some secrets that you do not know yet- If you are affected by yeast infection, there are some glorious pure treatments for vaginal infection accessible, which will be applied simply with none side effects. these pure treatments will free you from this drawback permanently. Uncover these glorious insider secrets by clicking – get Rid of Vaginal Thrush. Related Web sites will be discovered at yeast infection cure, how to treat a yeast infection and Gewichtsabnahme.

Pevion Biotech AG announced latest results from the ongoing clinical study of its therapeutic Candida vaccine PEV7, showing high levels of specific antibodies and a 100% mucosal immune response rate

BERN, Switzerland | October 11, 2011 | Pevion Biotech AG today announced latest results from the ongoing clinical study of its therapeutic Candida vaccine PEV7, showing high levels of specific antibodies and a 100% mucosal immune response rate. The announcement further included the results of the largest, international representative epidemiological survey to date on recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), confirming that 7% of adult women suffer from the disease.

The newly announced data come from the group of volunteers vaccinated with the intramuscular high dose of PEV7 and showed significantly increased immunogenicity over the previously vaccinated low-dose group, while confirming the excellent safety profile customary for virosome-delivered vaccines. Particularly relevant for the postulated mode-of-action of PEV7 was the strong immune response detected in vaginal and cervical samples. All volunteers showed a mucosal immune response with consistently high titers across the group.

"an immune response of this magnitude in the cervicovaginal compartment is very encouraging with regards to the therapeutic potential of the vaccine," stated Jean-Paul Prieels, former Head of Vaccine R&D at GlaxoSmithKline and recently elected Board Member at Pevion. "after seeing the first positive immunogenicity data from the low dose group, we defined criteria on what immunogenicity outcome we would regard as best case for the high dose. we are delighted that these criteria have been met in full. we are now following the level of immune response over time and see first promising signs in terms of mucosal antibody persistence."

In order to further validate the disease burden and the commercial potential of PEV7, Pevion mandated the largest, international representative epidemiological survey on RVVC among 6’000 women, generating robust data on prevalence, incidence and the age structure of the RVVC patient population. The study was performed in the US and the five largest European markets by Ipsos Health, a leader in the field of independent market research.

"The consistency of the Ipsos survey results across countries and with previous studies is very convincing. RVVC is a common problem throughout the Western world," says Prof. Betsy Foxman, a leading RVVC epidemiologist from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA. "41% of women surveyed reported a least one episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Of those, one in five had a 12-month period with 4 or more yeast infections. therefore, PEV7 has the potential to address a strong unmet medical need."

"PEV7 is a first-in-class therapeutic vaccine to address this widespread and highly debilitating disease," states Evert Kueppers, CEO of Pevion. "Based on the positive data from our clinical study, we advance both product and business development activities for the PEV7 program at full speed."

About RVVC

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), also known as chronic recurrent thrush, is a largely unrecognized but highly debilitating condition, which affects 7% of adult women. it is defined as four or more acute episodes of symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis within a 12 months period. Clinical symptoms are vulvovaginal inflammation, most often dominated by severe itching, and other symptoms causing extreme discomfort and pain. The quality of life of RVVC patients is strongly impacted, both physically and psychologically. a significant proportion of patients suffer over many years without perspective for any amelioration or cure from permanently present painful disease symptoms, impeded activities including social life and work, partnership problems, and difficulties or impossibility to talk about it. over time, accumulating frustration leads to loss of self esteem, desperation, and in approximately a third of patients, to depression. Cure rates of RVVC with available antifungal drug therapy remain disappointing and there is no treatment available to prevent recurrencies.

About PEV7 therapeutic Candida vaccine

PEV7 is a therapeutic vaccine based on a protein antigen, Sap2, a key virulence factor of vulvovaginal candidiasis, presented on the surface of virosomes. Pevion exclusively in-licensed the Sap2 antigen from its academic partner, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in Rome, Italy.

The ongoing PEV7 Phase I study is designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the therapeutic vaccine candidate in healthy volunteers. half of the subjects will receive intramuscular injections, while the other half will receive capsules, administered intravaginally. In total, the study will enroll 48 healthy women of childbearing age.

About Virosomes

Virosomes are a regulatory and market-approved vaccine technology that fulfills carrier and adjuvant functions in one. Essentially, virosomes represent reconstituted empty influenza virus envelopes, devoid of the genetic material of the source virus. as such, virosomes do not replicate and are therefore an ideal combination of carrier plus adjuvant for almost any given antigen, including peptide or protein derived antigens. The technology enables the use of poorly immunogenic antigens and thereby provides access to new indications and markets. Two virosome-based vaccines (Epaxal® and Inflexal® V, marketed by Crucell Switzerland AG) are licensed in over 40 countries, and more than 70 million doses of these vaccines have been commercially distributed, thereby providing a solid safety and efficacy track record. Pevion has developed and owns the second generation of virosomes that have an excellent stability profile through lyophilization and allow alternative product formulations, such as capsules.

About Pevion Biotech AG

Pevion Biotech AG is a fully independent Swiss vaccine company that develops innovative vaccines for unmet medical needs based on its clinically and commercially validated virosome technology. Its proprietary clinical pipeline includes a first-in-class candidiasis vaccine. a clinical stage malaria vaccine candidate has been successfully outlicensed, and the Company’s technology has been licensed for use as an HIV vaccine currently in human trials. Pevion has in-house development capability and expertise, including a state-of-the-art and industrially scalable GMP manufacturing process. Located near Bern, Pevion was established by its founding fathers, Bachem AG (SWX:BANB.sw – News) and Berna Biotech (now Crucell, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary). to date, Pevion has raised a total of CHF 45 million from its founders and investors, BZ Bank, Bachem, BB Biotech Ventures and private investors.

SOURCE: Pevion Biotech AG

BERN, Switzerland, October 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Pevion Biotech AG today announced latest results from the ongoing clinical study of its therapeutic Candida vaccine PEV7, showing high levels of specific antibodies and a 100% mucosal immune response rate. The announcement further included the results of the largest, international representative epidemiological survey to date on recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), confirming that 7% of adult women suffer from the disease.

The newly announced data come from the group of volunteers vaccinated with the intramuscular high dose of PEV7 and showed significantly increased immunogenicity over the previously vaccinated low-dose group, while confirming the excellent safety profile customary for virosome-delivered vaccines. Particularly relevant for the postulated mode-of-action of PEV7 was the strong immune response detected in vaginal and cervical samples. all volunteers showed a mucosal immune response with consistently high titers across the group.

“An immune response of this magnitude in the cervicovaginal compartment is very encouraging with regards to the therapeutic potential of the vaccine,” stated Jean-Paul Prieels, former Head of Vaccine R&D at GlaxoSmithKline and recently elected  Board Member at Pevion. “After seeing the first positive immunogenicity data from the low dose group, we defined criteria on what immunogenicity outcome we would regard as best case for the high dose. We are delighted that these criteria have been met in full. We are now following the level of immune response over time and see first promising signs in terms of mucosal antibody persistence.”

In order to further validate the disease burden and the commercial potential of PEV7, Pevion mandated the largest, international representative epidemiological survey on RVVC among 6’000 women, generating robust data on prevalence, incidence and the age structure of the RVVC patient population. The study was performed in the US and the five largest European markets by Ipsos Health, a leader in the field of independent market research.

“The consistency of the Ipsos survey results across countries and with previous studies is very convincing. RVVC is a common problem throughout the Western world,” says Prof. Betsy Foxman, a leading RVVC epidemiologist from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA. “41% of women surveyed reported a least one episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis. of those, one in five had a 12-month period with 4 or more yeast infections. Therefore, PEV7 has the potential to address a strong unmet medical need.”

“PEV7 is a first-in-class therapeutic vaccine to address this widespread and highly debilitating disease,” states Evert Kueppers, CEO of Pevion. “Based on the positive data from our clinical study, we advance both product and business development activities for the PEV7 program at full speed.”

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), also known as chronic recurrent thrush, is a largely unrecognized but highly debilitating condition, which affects 7% of adult women. it is defined as four or more acute episodes of symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis within a 12 months period. Clinical symptoms are vulvovaginal inflammation, most often dominated by severe itching, and other symptoms causing extreme discomfort and pain. The quality of life of RVVC patients is strongly impacted, both physically and psychologically. a significant proportion of patients suffer over many years without perspective for any amelioration or cure from permanently present painful disease symptoms, impeded activities including social life and work, partnership problems, and difficulties or impossibility to talk about it. over time, accumulating frustration leads to loss of self esteem, desperation, and in approximately a third of patients, to depression. Cure rates of RVVC with available antifungal drug therapy remain disappointing and there is no treatment available to prevent recurrencies.

About PEV7 therapeutic Candida vaccine

PEV7 is a therapeutic vaccine based on a protein antigen, Sap2, a key virulence factor of vulvovaginal candidiasis, presented on the surface of virosomes. Pevion exclusively in-licensed the Sap2 antigen from its academic partner, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in Rome, Italy.

The ongoing PEV7 Phase I study is designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the therapeutic vaccine candidate in healthy volunteers. Half of the subjects will receive intramuscular injections, while the other half will receive capsules, administered intravaginally. In total, the study will enroll 48 healthy women of childbearing age.

Virosomes are a regulatory and market-approved vaccine technology that fulfills carrier and adjuvant functions in one. Essentially, virosomes represent reconstituted empty influenza virus envelopes, devoid of the genetic material of the source virus. as such, virosomes do not replicate and are therefore an ideal combination of carrier plus adjuvant for almost any given antigen, including peptide or protein derived antigens. The technology enables the use of poorly immunogenic antigens and thereby provides access to new indications and markets. two virosome-based vaccines (Epaxal® and Inflexal® V, marketed by Crucell Switzerland AG) are licensed in over 40 countries, and more than 70 million doses of these vaccines have been commercially distributed, thereby providing a solid safety and efficacy track record. Pevion has developed and owns the second generation of virosomes that have an excellent stability profile through lyophilization and allow alternative product formulations, such as capsules.

About Pevion Biotech AG

Pevion Biotech AG is a fully independent Swiss vaccine company that develops innovative vaccines for unmet medical needs based on its clinically and commercially validated virosome technology. Its proprietary clinical pipeline includes a first-in-class candidiasis vaccine. a clinical stage malaria vaccine candidate has been successfully outlicensed, and the Company’s technology has been licensed for use as an HIV vaccine currently in human trials. Pevion has in-house development capability and expertise, including a state-of-the-art and industrially scalable GMP manufacturing process. Located near Bern, Pevion was established by its founding fathers, Bachem AG (SWX: BANB) and Berna Biotech (now Crucell, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary). To date, Pevion has raised a total of CHF 45 million from its founders and investors, BZ Bank, Bachem, BB Biotech Ventures and private investors.

For more information visit pevion.com  

For further information, please contact: Julian Wagner, PhD, Business Development, Phone: +41-31-550-44-44,

SOURCE Pevion Biotech AG

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