Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Receives License Payments From Partners

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Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Receives License Payments From Partners
    FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AQLA) today announced that it has received milestone payments from
two of its corporate partners.  One is a payment from Progenics
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the use of Aquila's lead Stimulon(R)
adjuvant QS-21 in their cancer program.  The other payment is from Neuralab
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elan Corporation, plc ("Elan"), in
connection with the use of Aquila's lead Stimulon(R) adjuvant QS-21 with an
undisclosed antigen in the field of Alzheimer's Disease.  The Neuralab payment
represents the second payment under the license agreement granted in January
this year.
    "We are very pleased with the progress made in these product development
programs," said Alison Taunton-Rigby, President and CEO of Aquila.
    QS-21, Aquila's lead Stimulon(R) adjuvant, enhances the body's immune
response.  The product has been evaluated in a large number of Phase I, Phase
II and Phase III clinical trials (about 30 different human clinical trials
have been completed involving over 2000 subjects to date).  Aquila's corporate
partners include Bristol-Myers Squibb/ Progenics Pharmaceuticals (GMK and MGV
cancer vaccines), SmithKline Beecham (hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine for
patients chronically infected with HBV, a therapeutic vaccine for people with
human papilloma virus infections, and the RTS,S malaria vaccine), VaxGen
(gp120 AIDS vaccine), Pasteur Merieux Connaught (vaccines for HIV), Wyeth
Lederle (respiratory virus vaccine) and Elan (a vaccine for Alzheimer's).  In
addition, Aquila has completed human studies in the fields of malaria and S.
pneumonia and studies with a number of academic collaborators in the cancer
field and other infectious diseases.  QS-21 is a critical component of
Leucogen(R), an approved vaccine to prevent feline leukemia virus infection,
which is licensed for sale in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan and sold
by Virbac S.A., and of Quilvax-M(TM), Aquila's lead product for the prevention
and control of mastitis in dairy cows caused by S. aureus and E. coli which is
currently in final licensing trials.
    Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is a life sciences company developing and
commercializing a range of proprietary products which enhance the immune
response in animals and humans.  The Company's products are intended for use
in treating, controlling and preventing infectious diseases, cancers and
autoimmune disorders. Aquila's products include: Leucogen(R) for protection
from feline luekemia virus (approved for U.S. and European use in 1991);
Quilvax-M(TM), an aid in the control of bovine mastitis; and Quilimmune-M(TM),
a human healthcare product for preventing malaria.  The Company also licenses
its immune enhancement technologies and current partners include SmithKline
Beecham, Pasteur Merieux Connaught, Wyeth Lederle, VaxGen, Bristol-Myers
Squibb (Progenics Pharmaceuticals), Elan Corporation and Virbac S.A.
    Statements in this release, which relate to expectations and objectives of
management for future operations of Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., or which
otherwise relate to future performance, are forward looking statements.
Actual results may differ from those projected as a result of product demand,
pricing, market acceptance, economic conditions, intellectual property issues,
competitive products, risks in product and technology development, and other
risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange filings.
    Leucogen(R) is a registered mark of Virbac S.A.
    For investor inquiries, please call (508) 766-2700 ext. 753.  Press
releases may be found on the Internet at either http://aquilabio.com,
http://www.prnewswire.com (company news on call) or requested by fax by
calling (800) 758-5804 X 134225.
SOURCE Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
http://www.aquilabio.com
Contact: Alison Taunton-Rigby, Ph.D., President and CEO of Aquila
Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., 508-766-2700 or Doug MacDougall or
Bruce Schiamberg of Feinstein Kean Healthcare, 617-577-8110