GenPhar, a Leader in the Area of Vaccine Development for the Biodefense Industry, to Collaborate on the Studies
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ImmuneRegen BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. , today announced it has commenced the first study of Viprovex(TM) to explore its adjuvant capabilities in the area of Pandemic Influenza Vaccine. The study is being conducted in conjunction with privately-held vaccine developer GenPhar, Inc., of Charleston, SC. GenPhar began its biodefense program in 2000 as one of the first in the industry and now works closely with the Department of Defense. GenPhar has vaccines for lethal viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, dengue and influenza, with several approaching the final development and testing stages prior to approval.
“We are very happy to announce our relationship with GenPhar which has developed a promising portfolio of vaccines and are excited to begin generating data in this very relevant area. If we can confirm immunostimulatory adjuvant activity in conjunction with an effective vaccine against Avian Influenza, we can help vaccinate many more Americans helping limited amounts of vaccine provide more effective, perhaps global coverage,” said ImmuneRegen’s CEO Michael Wilhelm. “GenPhar’s vaccine development program is aggressively achieving milestones against viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C virus, influenza, and potential bioterror agents such as the hemorrhagic fevers caused by Ebola and Marburg virus, and dengue fever. We are very pleased to be working with such a well-established and respected scientific team, and believe that positive results with Viprovex(TM) will also open up the possibilities to include Viprovex(TM) into other vaccines against diseases with great social and economical impacts, such as HIV and hepatitis C and can be followed up with additional studies further demonstrating adjuvant capabilities.”
About Radilex and Viprovex
Radilex is the trade name used in referring to formulations of Homspera for potential indications for treatment of exposure to ionizing radiation. Viprovex is the trade name used in referring to formulations of Homspera for potential indications for treatment of viral and bacterial infections. Homspera is a generic name used by the Company to describe the synthetic peptide Sar9, Met (O2)11-Substance P. Sar9, Met (O2)11-Substance P is an analog of the naturally occurring human neuropeptide Substance P, which can be found throughout the body, including in the airways of humans and many other species. All of the Company’s research and development efforts are early, pre-clinical stage and Homspera, as Viprovex and Radilex, has only undergone exploratory studies to evaluate its biological activity in small animals.
About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
IR BioSciences Holdings Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., is a development stage biotechnology company focused on the research and development of Homspera(TM) and its derivatives Radilex(TM) and Viprovex(TM), which are under study as candidate therapeutic countermeasures for multiple homeland security bioterrorism threats. Homspera is derived from Substance P, a naturally occurring peptide immunomodulator. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.immuneregen.com.
About GenPhar, Inc.
GenPhar, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader in developing and producing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines to protect against the world’s most dangerous diseases. To reach its goals, GenPhar will leverage the advantage of its proven safe and effective ProVax and TheraVax vaccine platforms -- unique technology capable of producing multiple vaccine products. GenPhar’s products are divided into two main areas: vaccines for biodefense and vaccines for chronic infectious diseases (including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C). These products will have a large scale socio-economic impact and transformative effect on current research and treatments. GenPhar was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Statements about the Company’s future expectations, including statements about the potential 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 fact that preliminary results involved only a small number of test mice, the subsequent investigations were limited in scope, 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-QSB for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and on Form 10-KSB for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 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.
MEDIA CONTACT: W. Jason Grimley Spelling Communications 310-477-9500 jgrimley@spellcom.com INVESTOR CONTACT: Josh Reynolds, CEOcast, Inc., 212-732-4300, jreynolds@ceocast.com
ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Media, W. Jason Grimley of Spelling Communications,+1-310-477-9500, jgrimley@spellcom.com, for ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.;or Investors, Josh Reynolds of CEOcast, Inc., +1-212-732-4300,jreynolds@ceocast.com, for ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
Web site: http://www.immuneregen.com/
