Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (AMEX: HEB), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the clinical development and manufacture of new drug entities for the treatment of seriously debilitating disorders and pandemic disease threats, announced today that new scientific reports featuring its two experimental lead products, (Ampligen® and Alferon-N), have been accepted by the 2nd International Conference on Avian Influenza. The event will be held at the Pasteur Institute, May 31-June 1, 2007, in Paris, France, and is attended by global healthcare professionals that specialize in the field of pandemic threats, such as influenza.
As the European Union and U.S. Bioshield programs prepare for any future pandemic threat, the most recent medical reports from critical influenza regions such as Southeast Asia indicate that presently available therapies - even given at the highest doses available via intravenous routes - does not alter the death rate, which at present is greater than 60%. These dismal clinical results have created renewed global impetus for finding new experimental agents that are based on different mechanisms. The aim is to reduce death rates due to highly pathogenic avian influenza strains (HPAI). Using several different forms of HPAI, collaborators with Hemispherx will report new laboratory studies suggesting that: a) existing therapy may be significantly improved by combinational therapy, evidencing drug "synergism"; and b) overwhelming pneumonia may be significantly mitigated by immunotherapy delivered by novel routes. As a result of these combinational therapies, death rates may be reduced.
"Mankind is increasingly at risk from global or pandemic threats from infectious disease. We are actively pursuing solutions that will mitigate these risks," noted Dr. William Carter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hemispherx. "We are honored to present our most recent findings at this prestigious conference that focuses on unraveling these complex healthcare issues."
About Hemispherx Biopharma
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx's flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutics Ampligen® and Oragens®. Alferon N Injection® is approved for a category of STD infection, and Ampligen® and Oragens® represent experimental RNA nucleic acids being developed for globally important viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx's platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Hemispherx has in excess of 100 patents comprising its core intellectual property estate, a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection®) and GMP certified manufacturing facilities for its novel pharma products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net
Information contained in this news release other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the strategies and operations of Hemispherx involve risk of competition, changing market conditions, change in laws and regulations affecting these industries and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any specifically referenced investigational drugs and associated technologies of the Company (including Ampligen®, Alferon LDO and Oragens) are experimental in nature and as such are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials with the referenced disorders. The forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Clinical trials for other potential indications of the approved biologic Alferon N Injection® do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indications.