SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and development biotechnology company ImmuneRegen BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. (IRBO), has named Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman of Arkansas and former Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, as a senior advisor to its Bioterrorism Preparedness Advisory Board.
Mr. Hutchinson will be charged, along with his fellow board members, with assisting in the development of a plan to disseminate the proprietary and potentially life-saving Radilex(TM)/Viprovex(TM) in the event of a biological or nuclear disaster. The ImmuneRegen Bioterrorism Preparedness Advisory Board will serve as a resource to the leadership of IR as it works to develop biological countermeasures in the current threat environment.
“Mr. Hutchinson’s in-depth background in Homeland Security are of incalculable importance to our Advisory Board,” said Michael K. Wilhelm, ImmuneRegen’s CEO. “His knowledge and experience will benefit us greatly, especially in helping to guide our strategic plan related to Bioshield II legislation and in our pursuit to make Radilex a staple in all national emergency preparedness stockpiles.”
Radilex is a treatment currently in development to counteract the effects of lethal radiation dosages. Having undergone its seventh stage of testing, Radilex is heading into its final phase of rodent studies with Oak Ridge National Laboratories.
“The U.S. can and should do more to aid the development and procurement of effective countermeasures for multiple homeland security threats. These threats include chemical agents, Acute Radiation Sickness (ARS) from a dirty bomb or nuclear disaster, and infectious disease/biological warfare scenarios,” said Hutchinson. “If the country were under a biological, chemical or radiological attack today, I fear we would not have sufficient stockpiles of medicine to meet the needs of the nation. This is why I accepted ImmueRegen’s invitation to help develop public-private partnerships that will better protect the country from terrorist attack.”
The U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Hutchinson as Under Secretary of Homeland Security in January 2003, shortly after the department was created. As one of the nation’s top-ranking homeland security officials after Secretary Tom Ridge, he was responsible for more than 110,000 federal employees housed in such agencies as the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He was responsible for managing and coordinating the overall security of U.S. borders and transportation systems, setting immigration enforcement policies and priorities, and developing and implementing visa security programs.
During his tenure as Under Secretary, Mr. Hutchinson modernized border inspections through the successful reorganization of formerly fragmented border agencies into one unified inspection force under Customs and Border Protection. He also advanced the use of new border technology, including development of the US-VISIT program -- a historic biometric entry-exit system for foreign visitors to the United States.
About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
IR BioSciences Holdings Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., is developing Homspera(TM) and its derivatives Radilex(TM) and Viprovex(TM) as a family of countermeasures for multiple homeland security threats, including chemical agents, Acute Radiation Sickness (ARS) from a dirty bomb or nuclear disaster, and infectious disease/biological warfare scenarios. This positions the base compound Homspera as a potential Universal Protectant. Homspera is derived from modified homeostatic Substance P, a naturally occurring peptide immunomodulator and homeostatic compound with the dual effect of improving pulmonary function and the stimulation of the human immune system. Further advances with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the U.S. Air Force are currently being pursued. The development of Homspera and its derivatives is pursuant to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “animal efficacy” rule, which allows an expedited development and approval process. In addition, these compounds are candidates for the Strategic National Stockpile under current BioShield law. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.immuneregen.com.
Statements about the Company’s future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, 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. 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 collaborations, clinical trials and product development programs, the evaluation of potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures, capital market conditions, and others set forth in the Company’s periodic report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: W. Jason Grimley
Spelling Communications 310-477-9500
jgrimley@spellcom.com
ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
CONTACT: W. Jason Grimley of Spelling Communications, +1-310-477-9500,grimley@spellcom.com, for ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
Web site: http://www.immuneregen.com//
