PHILADELPHIA, July 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex:HEB) (the "Company" or "Hemispherx") today announced the granting of a new United States Patent for the use of Ampligen® [rintatolimod; poly(I)·poly(C12,U)] as a vaccine adjuvant for use with seasonal influenza vaccine to induce an enhanced immune response against H5N1 avian influenza. The patent describes a method using intranasal administration of Ampligen®, a toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist, along with a seasonal influenza vaccine to enhance an immune response against a H5N1 avian influenza infection compared to the administration of seasonal influenza vaccine alone. Intranasal vaccination stimulates mucosal immunity which is characterized by a broader, and potentially more effective, immune response.
