AMES, Iowa, June 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NewLink Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:NLNK) today announced that Thomas P. Monath M.D., Chief Science Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Infectious Disease Division of NewLink Genetics, will present at a scientific conference focused on the Zika virus hosted by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in collaboration with the American Society for Virology (ASV).
The conference, which is called, “What Does the Biology of Flaviviruses Tell Us About Zika: The Importance of Fundamental Virus Biology,” is being held in Washington, D.C., on June 1.
NewLink Genetics’ Infectious Disease Division, which is based in Devens, Mass., is focused on finding innovative and life-saving treatments for people who have no or few options available to them, including Ebola and Zika virus diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus to be an international public health emergency due to its role in transplacental infection and birth defects in newborns, including microcephaly.
Dr. Monath, an internationally-recognized expert on flaviviruses – a family of more than 70 viruses that includes West Nile, dengue, yellow fever and Zika - will deliver a presentation entitled, “Cognate Pathogenesis of Neurotropic Flaviviruses Relevance to Vaccine Development.” Dr. Monath has published widely on this group of viruses, including several books, and has led development of new vaccines against flaviviruses including dengue, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever. His presentation at the ASM conference will focus on the common themes in pathogenesis and vaccine development between Zika virus and other members of the flavivirus group.
“NewLink Genetics is committed to developing a vaccine solution to the unfolding human tragedy caused by Zika virus,” said Dr. Monath. “Our R&D group has decades of experience in developing successful vaccines against closely-related flaviviruses, which we are leveraging to accelerate our Zika vaccine program.”
“ASM has acted quickly to bring together academia, industry and public policy leaders to lead the call for immediate and aggressive action against Zika virus, and we are pleased Tom is part of this important conference,” said Charles J. Link, M.D., CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of NewLink Genetics. “Our team gained considerable experience during the Ebola crisis collaborating with national and international partners in a rapidly evolving public health environment, and we look forward to similar collaborative efforts on Zika.”
About the Zika Virus
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus. The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency and there is no current vaccine and no course of treatment for the Zika virus.
About NewLink Genetics Corporation
NewLink Genetics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immuno-oncology products to improve treatment options for patients with cancer. NewLink Genetics’ portfolio includes biologic and small molecule immunotherapy product candidates intended to treat a wide range of oncology indications. NewLink Genetics’ product candidates are designed to harness multiple components of the immune system to combat cancer without significant incremental toxicity, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatment regimens. For more information please visit http://www.newlinkgenetics.com.
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