National Cancer Institute Initiates Studies on ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.' Vaccine Adjuvant Candidate

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwire - January 27, 2010) - ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc.®, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR Biosciences Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: IRBS), today announced the execution of an agreement with the National Institute of Health (NIH) / National Cancer Institute (NCI) to commence studies utilizing ImmuneRegen's Homspera. Under the agreement, the NIH will perform exploratory studies on Homspera relating to mucosal immunity that might lead to subsequent evaluation in models of HIV infection.

Recent studies have found Homspera to be effective in enhancing the efficacy of a novel cancer vaccine, and previous studies have revealed efficacy in the space of infectious disease vaccines, specifically influenza. The studies to be performed at NIH/NCI are designed to expand on that research and further define the mechanisms that make Homspera an effective vaccine adjuvant.

The research will be directed by Jay A. Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Vaccine Branch at the Center for Cancer Research within the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Berzofsky has published over 435 scientific publications and has received a number of awards, including the U.S. Public Health Service Superior Service Award. He is the past President of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was elected Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2007 by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He was also elected Chair of the Medical Sciences Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2007-08. He most recently won the NIH Director's Award and NCI Merit Award in 2008.

"We are pleased that Dr. Berzofsky and his team are interested in evaluating the impact of Homspera on mucosal immunity, and hope this is the beginning of a relationship that takes our compound into a number of potential vaccine adjuvant studies," said Hal Siegel, Ph.D., ImmuneRegen's Chief Scientific Officer.

About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.

ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: IRBS), is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on the research, development and licensing of Homspera®. Homspera is an adult stem cell active compound that in study results has been shown to regenerate and strengthen the immune system and enhance wound healing. Homspera is being developed for potential use against infectious diseases as a stand-alone or combination therapy and as a vaccine adjuvant. To advance its mission, the Scottsdale, Arizona based company has forged numerous study partnerships with industry and academic leaders, including Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, HemoGenix, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute and Virion Systems. For more information, please visit www.immuneregen.com.

Statements about the Company's future expectations, including statements about the potential use and scientific results for the Company's drug candidates, science and technology, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These future events may not occur as and when expected, if at all, and, together with the Company's business, are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainties inherent in research and development collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical trials and product development programs (including, but not limited to the fact that future results or research and development efforts may prove less encouraging than current results or cause side effects not observed in current pre-clinical trials), the evaluation of potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures and monies available for further studies, capital market conditions, and others set forth in the Company's periodic report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are no guarantees that any of the Company's proposed products will prove to be commercially successful. The Company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.


Contact:

Michael K. Wilhelm
ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc.
Phone: 480-922-3926
Email: Email Contact

John Fermanis
ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc.
Phone: 480-922-3926
Email: Email Contact

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