TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company filed its proposed Plan of Reorganization (Plan) with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. With this filing, Accentia is positioned to emerge from Chapter 11 protection this summer as a fully restructured company. Upon Court-ordered confirmation, the Plan is expected to support the regulatory advancement of the autoimmune disease therapy, Revimmune™, a comprehensive system of care and drug regimen designed to “reboot” the immune system to potentially eliminate multiple sclerosis and significantly reduce disability. Accentia is preparing to advance a regulatory strategy in order to proceed with a planned late-stage clinical trial for Revimmune.
“We are very proud to report that the Accentia Plan of Reorganization achieves our priority goal of preserving the interests of all stakeholders. The Plan will strengthen the Company’s financial position and balance sheet with favorably restructured terms allowing us to service our long-term debt obligations while importantly preserving the common shares without significantly increasing the fully diluted share count,” stated Accentia’s President, Mr. Samuel S. Duffey. “Our foremost priority in emerging from Chapter 11 is to devote our resources towards the advancement of Revimmune, which offers the unprecedented potential to change the way multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases are treated. Revimmune has been shown to eliminate the peripheral immune cells, including the cells perpetuating the autoimmunity, as opposed to current standard of care treatments that only delay disease progression.”
Through an Accentia-managed Revimmune patient registration program, a Revimmune therapy candidate would be pre-qualified to determine eligibility to receive a comprehensive system of care which includes an ultra-high dose, pulsed regimen of cyclophosphamide (HyCy) designed to “reboot” the patient’s immune system. Revimmune therapy is believed to act by completely eliminating mature lymphocytes throughout the body while selectively sparing immune stem cells in the bone marrow. Shortly following a course of Revimmune, the bone marrow stem cells repopulate the immune system with new cells that lack the traits of autoimmunity, offering the potential for sustained remissions.
Accentia is also a majority stakeholder in Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC: “BVTI”), and this investment may represent significant value as Biovest has completed a Phase III clinical trial and plans to seek approvals for BiovaxID®, a personalized cancer vaccine to treat certain B-cell lymphomas.
About Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Other OTC: “ABPIQ”) is committed to making the autoimmune disease therapy, Revimmune™, available to patients as a comprehensive system of care and drug regimen designed to result in a pronounced reduction in disease activity while potentially restoring neurologic and physical functions for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). A late-stage MS clinical trial for Revimmune is being planned.
Accentia also holds a majority-ownership stake in Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC: “BVTI”). Biovest, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, has developed a patient-specific cancer vaccine, BiovaxID®, which has demonstrated statistically significant Phase III clinical benefit in follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by prolonging disease-free survival in patients treated with BiovaxID as compared to a control group. Based on positive Phase II and Phase III results, Biovest is currently preparing to seek U.S. and international approvals.
Additionally, Accentia’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Analytica International, based in New York City, is a global research and strategy consulting firm that provides professional services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Since 1997, Analytica has expertly directed research studies and projects, including traditional health economic modeling projects, database studies, structured reviews, heath technology assessments, reimbursement analyses, and value dossiers.
For further information, please visit: http://www.Accentia.net
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Revimmune™, BiovaxID® and any other statements relating to products, product candidates, product development programs, the FDA or clinical study process including the commencement, process, or completion of clinical trials or the regulatory process. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results of Accentia to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and the additional risks discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Accentia undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. The product names used in this statement are for identification purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact:
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Douglas Calder, 813-864-2554, ext. 258 Director of Investor Relations & Public Relations dwcalder@accentia.net
