PLANTATION, Fla., May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viragen, Inc.
(Amex: VRA) today announced that the Company extended its agreement with the
University of Miami and UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to develop a
novel form of an immune-enhancing drug (IEP 11) that has shown promise in
animal studies by inhibiting tumor growth in a broad range of cancers. The
agreement continues to provide Viragen with an option to acquire an exclusive
worldwide license to commercialize the technology.
"This small peptide molecule called 'IEP 11' holds the potential of being
a platform technology for the treatment of a broad range of cancers," stated
Dr. William H. Stimson, Viragen's Director of Research (Emeritus). "Initial
studies in animals have shown the peptide elicits a powerful immune response
against various types of cancer cells. Additionally, those animals that were
'IEP 11 immunized' were found to form much smaller tumors or not at all. Our
results to date are highly promising and further pre-clinical research studies
will be carried out to confirm our preliminary data."
Over the next year, Viragen and their University of Miami collaborators
plan to carry out a series of pre-clinical studies designed to demonstrate
therapeutic efficacy. IEP 11 has already shown to be able to protect against
tumor formation in non-human evaluations, so if it also proves efficacious in
treatment regimes, the project is expected to move forward toward human
clinical evaluations.
UM/Sylvester was founded in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services
and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis and
treatment at the University of Miami School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles
more than 1,100 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,800 surgical
procedures and treats 2,900 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians
are on the faculty of the University of Miami School of Medicine, South
Florida's only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians
and scientists are engaged in more than 150 clinical trials and receive more
than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach
recently opened to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm
Beach Counties. This 10,000 square-foot facility at I-95 and S.W. 10th Street
offers appointments with physicians from six cancer specialties, complementary
therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.
http://www.sylvester.org
For more information, please visit: http://www.Viragen.com
About Viragen, Inc.:
Viragen is a biotechnology company specializing in the research,
development and commercialization of natural and recombinant protein-based
drugs designed to treat a broad range of viral and malignant diseases. These
protein-based drugs include natural human alpha interferon, monoclonal
antibodies and a peptide drug. Viragen's strategy also includes the
development of Avian Transgenic Technology as a biomanufacturing platform for
the large-scale, cost-effective production of therapeutic proteins.
Viragen is publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (VRA).
Viragen's majority owned subsidiary, Viragen International, Inc., is publicly
traded on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board (VGNI). Viragen's key partners
and licensors include: Roslin Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, Cancer Research UK, University of Nottingham (U.K.), University of
Miami, America's Blood Centers and the German Red Cross.
Viragen, Inc. Corporate Contact:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications
Phone: (954) 233-8746
Fax: (954) 233-1414
E-mail: dcalder@viragen.com
The foregoing press announcement contains forward-looking statements that
can be identified by such terminology such as "expect," "potential,"
"suggests," "may," "will," "should," "could" or similar expressions. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such statements. In particular, management's expectations regarding future
research, development and/or commercial results could be affected by, among
other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product
development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or
government regulation generally; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain
patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition
in general. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are
made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking
statements are made.
SOURCE Viragen, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.viragen.com
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CONTACT:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications of
Viragen, Inc., +1-954-233-8746, or fax +1-954-233-1414, or e-mail
dcalder@viragen.com
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