iBio, Inc. Receives Allowance Of Patent For HPV-Related Cancer Vaccine In China

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NEWARK, DE--(Marketwired - January 21, 2014) - iBio, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IBIO), a leading provider of plant-based biotechnology for developing and manufacturing biological products, has received a notice of allowance from the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China for its patent application, "HPV Antigens, Vaccine Compositions, and Related Methods."

"This important notice of allowance represents a major step towards exclusivity in China for our low-cost and rapid plant-based manufacturing and development solution for HPV-related vaccines," said Wayne P. Fitzmaurice, Ph.D., iBio's vice president of intellectual property. "Vaccines produced by our iBioModulator™ platform have been shown to have preventive and therapeutic effects in preclinical studies, and they address a great global need for effective and less costly HPV vaccines."

According to Research and Markets, the human papillomavirus vaccines market for adults and adolescents in US, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, UK and Japan is expected to grow from $1.8 billion in 2011 to $2.2 billion in 2018. Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) accounts for about 50% of all HPV-related cancer worldwide.

In preclinical tests conducted by iBio, an HPV16 E7 coding sequence was engineered as a fusion protein with a modified β-1,3-1,4 glucanase (iBioModulator) of Clostridium thermocellum. It was manufactured in whole Nicotiana benthamiana plants by transient expression using the company's iBioLaunch™ vector system. Immunization with E7-iBioModulator fusion protein resulted in a prophylactic effect, as well as a therapeutic response clearing tumors in experimentally-implanted animals.

The iBioModulator platform has been shown to significantly modify the immune response to a vaccine in two important ways. First, it increases the strength of the initial immune response to a vaccine antigen (as measured by antibody titer). Then it extends the duration of the immune response, thus lowering vaccine antigen requirements or enabling fewer doses to establish prolonged immunity. Generating a stronger immune response and longer-term protection without booster inoculations adds significant value to a vaccine by reducing the overall costs and logistical difficulties of its use while effectively reaching a higher proportion of the target population.

The iBioModulator platform is supported by iBio's proprietary iBioLaunch plant-based protein expression system. iBio offers iBioModulator licenses to product developers for use with iBioLaunch or other protein expression systems.

The new patent allowance complements iBio's Australian version of the patent (serial no. 2007215082) that was issued in October of 2012. It also broadens the protection of iBio's greater patent family, particularly U.S. Patents 8,173,408 and 8,591,909, Canadian Patent 2,526,720, and European Patent 1,664,322, all of which cover compositions and uses of the company's iBioModulator vaccine platform. iBio's IP portfolio now includes a total of 12 U.S. and 18 international patents, with 13 U.S. and 36 international patent applications.

About iBio

iBio, Inc. develops and offers proprietary products and product licenses, based on its proprietary iBioLaunch™ and iBioModulator™ platforms, providing collaborators full support for turn-key implementation of its technology for protein therapeutics and vaccines. In Brazil, iBio has been collaborating with Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology since 2011 to develop a recombinant yellow fever vaccine based upon iBio technology.

The iBioLaunch platform is a proprietary, transformative technology for development and production of biologics using transient gene expression in unmodified green plants. The iBioModulator platform is complementary to the iBioLaunch platform and designed to significantly improve vaccine products with both higher potency and greater duration of effect. The iBioModulator platform can be used with any recombinant expression technology for vaccine development and production. Further information is available at: www.ibioinc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE RELATED TO IBIO, INC. MAY CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH STATEMENTS INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES SUCH AS COMPETITIVE FACTORS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, MARKET DEMAND, AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN NEW CONTRACTS AND ACCURATELY ESTIMATE NET REVENUES DUE TO VARIABILITY IN SIZE, SCOPE AND DURATION OF PROJECTS. FURTHER INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPANY'S REPORTS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


Investor Relations Contact
Ron Both
Liolios Group, Inc.
Tel 949-574-3860
Email Contact

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