AFID Therapeutics Inc. New Anticoagulant Heparin Replacement Passes in Vivo Test

LANSING, Mich., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Afid Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it had completed successful in vitro and in vivo (whole animal) demonstrations of the efficacy of its new "traceless" anticoagulant, which is meant to replace heparin in many applications. The in vivo and some of the in vitro studies were carried out by an independent certified third party laboratory. Heparin is a complex drug, which is used beyond the reach of chemical synthesis and can only be obtained from sources such as the intestines and lungs of pigs and cattle. The manufacture and use of heparin from cattle is banned in the US, Canada and Europe, and the main commercial sources of heparin used in North America and Europe are in China where it is purified from the intestines of pigs. There is a very high degree of variability in activity and preparations are prone to contamination.

Heparin is one of the most widely used drugs. Its many uses include the treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It is also used to prevent the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in some patients. Two other important other uses of heparin are as adjuncts in dialysis to prevent clotting and to prevent intravascular coagulation during open heart surgical procedures. Heparin is also used to treat angina and to prevent clotting in i.v. devices. Problems in the use of heparin include bleeding in about 10% of patients and the induction of hypersentivity and osteoporosis. There is an intense effort aimed at finding a replacement for heparin.

The new Afid Therapeutics anticoagulant mimics heparin and is designed to produce only carbohydrates and amino acids when it degrades in the blood stream thus minimizing the risks of side effects. Cell toxicity studies carried out thus far show no effect on the viability of mammalian cells.

"We are very appreciative of the support we have received from these organizations. This has been critical to our success," said Rawle Hollingsworth President and Founder of Afid Therapeutics. "We are preparing for the filing of an NDA in the near future."

Afid Therapeutics Inc. specializes in advanced chemistry based on carbohydrates with a focus on the drug discovery and development areas. In addition to its internal R&D efforts in drug discovery and development, Afid Therapeutics provides advanced chemical intermediates to over 80 pharmaceutical companies and research entities around the world. The company has received critical funding from the MEDC 21st Century Fund, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Spark and the Western Michigan Biosciences Research Commercialization Center.

The Afid Therapeutics chemistry platform is based on the conversion of plant materials, especially from corn and sugar beet, into advanced drugs and other chemical intermediates.

CONTACT: Rawle Hollingsworth, Ph.D., President of Afid Therapeutics Inc.,
+1-517-336-4663, rih@afidtherapeutics.com

Web site: http://www.afidtherapeutics.com/