New Publication in Vaccine Highlights Preclinical Results of Vaxart’s Mucosal Chikungunya Vaccine

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Vaxart, Inc. (Nasdaq: VXRT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company
developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet
rather than by injection, today announced the publication of the
comprehensive results from a preclinical trial of its chikungunya
vaccine in the peer reviewed journal, Vaccine.

The article, titled “An adjuvanted adenovirus 5-based vaccine elicits
neutralizing antibodies and protects mice against chikungunya
virus-induced footpad swelling,” details the results from a study
using Vaxart’s chikungunya vaccine candidate in a preclinical efficacy
model.

“These preclinical results demonstrate that our vaccine candidate
induced significant neutralizing antibodies against chikungunya virus as
well as protective efficacy against virus-induced pathologic changes,”
said Sean Tucker, Ph.D., founder and chief scientific officer of Vaxart.
“Importantly, we saw reduced footpad swelling, a model for arthritis
induction in humans caused by chikungunya infection. There are no
approved vaccines or treatments for the estimated one million patients
each year infected with chikungunya virus.”

Vaxart develops oral vaccines for a broad range of infections that have
a major impact on public health, including vaccines for norovirus and
influenza.

About Chikungunya

Chikungunya is an illness caused by a virus that spreads through
mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and
joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint
swelling, or rash. The mosquito that carries chikungunya virus bites
primarily during the daytime, both indoors and outdoors, and often lives
around buildings in urban areas. Patients symptoms usually begin 3—7
days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most patients will feel
better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for
months. Death is rare. People at risk for more severe disease include
newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years),
and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure,
diabetes, or heart disease. Travelers who go to Africa, Asia, parts of
Central and South America, and islands in the Indian Ocean, Western and
South Pacific, and Caribbean are at risk.

About Vaxart

Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing
oral recombinant protein vaccines based on its proprietary oral vaccine
platform. Vaxart’s vaccines are designed to generate broad and durable
immune responses that protect against a wide range of infectious
diseases and may also be useful for the treatment of chronic viral
infections and cancer. Vaxart’s vaccines are administered using a
convenient room temperature-stable tablet, rather than by injection.
Vaxart believes that tablet vaccines are easier to distribute and
administer than injectable vaccines and have the potential to
significantly increase vaccination rates. Vaxart’s development programs
include oral tablet vaccines that are designed to protect against
norovirus, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as
well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV).

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding
our strategy, prospects, plans and objectives, results from preclinical
and clinical trials, commercialization agreements and licenses, beliefs
and expectations of management are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as
“believe,” “could,” “potential,” “will” and other words and terms of
similar meaning. Examples of such statements include, but are not
limited to, statements relating to the Vaxart’s ability to develop and
commercialize its product candidates and clinical results and trial
data; the expected timing of the initiation of the Phase 1 bivalent
study and Phase 2 monovalent challenge study; and Vaxart’s expectations
with respect to the important advantages it believes its oral vaccine
platform can offer over injectable alternatives, particularly for
mucosal pathogens such as norovirus, flu and RSV. Vaxart may not
actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the
expectations or projections disclosed in our forward-looking statements
and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the
plans, intentions, expectations and projections disclosed in the
forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements that Vaxart makes, that Vaxart’s product candidates may not
be approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities; that, even if
approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities, Vaxart’s product
candidates may not achieve broad market acceptance; that Vaxart may
experience manufacturing issues and delays; and other risks described in
the “Risk Factors” sections of Vaxart’s Quarterly and Annual Reports
filed with the SEC. Vaxart does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Contacts

Daniella Funaro
Stern Investor Relations
212-362-1200
[email protected]