November 21, 2003

US Biopharmaceutical AVANT Obtain USDA Licensure of Its Megan(R)Egg Vaccine For Poultry

AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a US biopharmaceutical company, yesterday announced that it has received notification from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) of the licensure of its Megan(R)Egg vaccine for use in breeding and laying hens.

Megan(R)Egg is a double gene-modified vaccine for use in commercial breeders and egg-layers to protect against infection from Salmonella bacteria that is known to contaminate eggs. Pullets generally receive three vaccinations during the growing period and are protected throughout lay without further vaccination.

The primary objective of the vaccine is elimination or reduction of Salmonella enteritidis levels in chickens, principally found in eggs, the birds and their poultry house.

Lohmann Animal Health International (LAHI) will distribute Megan(R)Egg exclusively in North America. LAHI, a private company, is a leader in the North American poultry industry, with an extensive product line of vaccines and related products, a well-established sales and marketing team, and a dedicated customer and technical support group. LAHI is committed to building a powerful force in the avian health industry.

'We and our partner LAHI look forward to continued service to the poultry industry with our new product, Megan(R)Egg for pullet hens, as well as our currently marketed Salmonella vaccine, Megan(R)Vac 1 vaccine for young broilers,'said Avery W. Catlin, Chief Financial Officer of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. 'While the reduction of Salmonella sp. in laying and breeder hens and broilers may provide some direct bird health benefit, the primary purpose of the vaccine is increased human food safety.'

About Salmonella Risks in Eggs

Egg-associated salmonellosis is an important public health problem in the United States and several European countries, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). A bacterium, Salmonella enteritidis, can be inside perfectly normal-appearing eggs, and if the eggs are eaten raw or undercooked, the bacterium can cause illness.

During the 1980s, illness related to contaminated eggs occurred most frequently in the northeastern United States, but now illness caused by S. enteritidis is increasing in other parts of the country. Approximately 40,000 people develop salmonella infection in the U.S. each year.

About AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.

AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of products that harness the human immune system to prevent and treat disease. The company is developing a broad portfolio of vaccines addressing a wide range of applications including bacterial and viral diseases, chronic human disease, biodefense and food safety. These include single-dose, oral vaccines that protect against important disease-causing agents and a novel, proprietary vaccine candidate for cholesterol management. AVANT's goal is to demonstrate proof-of-concept for its products before leveraging their value through partnerships. Current collaborations encompass the development of an oral human rotavirus vaccine, vaccines to combat threats of biological warfare, and vaccines addressed to human food safety and animal health.