SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ImmuneRegen BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. , today announced that it will be working closely with Hyperion Biotechnology Inc. in new tests of Viprovex(TM), the proprietary compound which has been found to reverse lung damage and stimulate suppressed or failing immune systems, as a treatment to the anthrax infection. The purpose of the test is to see if the immune-stimulant will reduce the mortality rate of an active infection of pulmonary anthrax. These tests will also look for the efficacy of Viprovex as a preventative to pulmonary anthrax sickness. The test will be conducted at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio, Texas with the cooperation of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM).
“Even the inhalation of very small numbers of anthrax spores can be deadly because once the spores mature in the lungs, they start producing toxins that destroy the body’s ability to combat the infection,” Says Michael Wilhelm, co-founder and CEO of ImmuneRegen. “Our past research suggests that Viprovex plays an important role during early responses of the lungs to a variety of substances. We have already found that Viprovex blocks the inflammatory cascade that leads to the destruction of lung tissue. Based on this, our hypothesis for this round of testing is that Viprovex will have a similar effect combating anthrax spores.”
The tests will be conducted by Hyperion Biotechnology Inc. Hyperion’s research facility is located on the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) campus in Brooks City-Base, TX.
Viprovex, derived from ImmuneRegen’s modified Substance P compound Homspera(TM), is a treatment currently in development for infectious diseases and biological warfare agents. Viprovex has shown efficacy in treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Hong Kong Influenza, and other toxic conditions involving jet diesel fuel. During early research, Dr. Mark L. Witten, co-founder of ImmuneRegen BioSciences, and his associates observed that exposure to jet fuels depleted endogenous pulmonary Substance P levels and resulted in pathological changes in the lungs and immune system. It was also observed that the administration of exogenous Substance P seemed to protect the lungs, as well as stimulate the immune system.
About Hyperion
Hyperion Biotechnology is dedicated to finding innovative medical solutions to the challenges faced by the 21st century warfighter. Hyperion has active research programs in the areas of probiotics, biomarker discovery, infectious disease and human performance enhancement. Hyperion is a woman and veteran owned small business that has been certified by the Small Business Administration as disadvantaged (8(a)).
About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
IR BioSciences Holdings Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., is developing Homspera(TM) and its derivatives Viprovex(TM) and Radilex(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 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
310-477-9500 jgrimley@spellcom.com
ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
CONTACT: W. Jason Grimley, +1-310-477-9500, jgrimley@spellcom.com, forImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
Web site: http://www.immuneregen.com/
