Viragen Files U.S. Patent Application For Natural Interferon To Target SARS
PLANTATION, Fla., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viragen, Inc.
(Amex: VRA) today announced that it has filed a patent application in the United States covering the use of its natural human leukocyte-derived alpha interferon for the treatment and prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This is Viragen's third patent application related to the SARS indication.
"Based on growing evidence we are obtaining that supports alpha interferon as a prime candidate for the treatment of SARS, we are moving forward with patent strategies designed to protect the global positioning of Multiferon(TM), our natural human interferon," stated Dr. Karen Jervis, Viragen's Director of Technology and Projects Coordinator.
While the immediate threat of SARS has been largely contained, many international health officials continue to predict that additional global outbreaks are likely to recur at some point in the future, possibly at epidemic or pandemic scales. Viragen has been supporting SARS research by providing samples of Multiferon to international research organizations including the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), which last year reported positive results from in vitro studies that placed Multiferon among the most encouraging drug candidates tested.
Dr. Jervis reviewed the Company's patent history with regards to SARS. "We filed the original patent application with the British Patent Office in May 2003 which covers the use of natural human leukocyte-derived alpha interferon for the treatment and prevention of SARS. We then updated our U.K. application in August 2003 to include additional data produced by the GIS which we believe significantly strengthens our position. Now with patents pending in the U.K. and U.S., we are potentially positioned not only for the treatment of SARS, but also to include prophylactic properties which may prevent infection from occurring. We believe we are establishing a broad proprietary position for SARS in many international jurisdictions and, therefore, continuing to enhance Viragen's growing intellectual property portfolio."
About Alpha Interferon:
The majority of alpha interferons that are marketed are single-subtype recombinant interferons. Therapy resistance is not unusual with recombinant interferons with a significant percentage of patients failing to respond to standard therapy. In some instances, recombinant interferon is rejected by the patient's immune system, usually caused by the formation of neutralizing antibodies which may lead to a loss of clinical efficacy. Also, many patients cannot tolerate the adverse side effects sometimes associated with recombinant therapy. High doses of recombinant interferon may cause serious, even life-threatening side effects.
About Multiferon(TM):
Multiferon is a highly purified, multi-subtype, natural human alpha interferon derived from human white blood cells and is approved in Sweden and Mexico for the second-line treatment of any and all diseases in which patients show an initial response to recombinant (synthetic) alpha interferon followed by treatment failure, probably due to the formation of neutralizing antibodies.
Viragen's natural interferon is also approved for sale in the following countries as a second-line therapy for the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Czech Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Africa and Thailand. Work is ongoing to expand the approved indications in these countries. Regulatory approval processes are also underway in a number of other South American, Middle East and Far East territories.
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, peptide drugs and therapeutic vaccines. Viragen's strategy also includes the development of Avian Transgenic Technology for the large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of its portfolio of protein-based drugs, as well as offering Contract Manufacturing for the biopharmaceutical industry.
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.
For more information, please visit our Web site at: www.Viragen.com
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.
-0- 03/10/2004
/CONTACT: Douglas Calder, Director of Communications, Viragen,
+1-954-233-8746; or fax, +1-954-233-1414, or e-mail: dcalder@viragen.com/
/First Call Analyst: /
/FCMN Contact: dcalder@viragen.com /
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