BIOPHAGE PHARMA (fka BIPMF)

[Jwit56]

As much as I like getting into the nitty gritty of all this, I'm more interested on the business side

[krisryden]

Biophage Pharma awarded NRC-IRAP funding to develop next generation Biosensors
Tuesday January 15, 12:24 pm ET

MONTREAL, Jan. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. today announced that it has received confirmation of financial support from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) for the development of its next generation of PDS(R) Biosensors which will rapidly and specifically detect life threatening pathogens like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli O157.


These first targeted bacteria were chosen based on the urgency to minimize the spread of hospital acquired infections and controlling contamination in our food supplies. Hospital acquired infections are the fourth leading cause of death in North America and within this category, MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the two most prevalent bacteria. On the other hand, E. coli O157 is the leading cause of foodborne illness, causing severe bloody diarrhea, and occasionally kidney failure (a life-threatening condition mainly in immunosuppressed patients).

"This financial support represents a cornerstone in our R&D program and will enable us to accelerate the development of our next generation biosensors. Our first generation, the PDS(R)16 biosensor, detects the total bacterial load in a biological sample and the second generation of biosensors will specifically detect MRSA, Pseudomonas and E. coli O157." said Dr. Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma Inc. "Presently, almost all diagnostic techniques take between 8 to 16 hours, and our objective is to provide an accurate diagnosis of these infections/contaminations in less than 5 minutes," added Dr Mandeville.

[krisryden]

Biophage Pharma announces improved 2007 third quarter financial results
MONTREAL, Oct. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX: BUG.V), a
high-potential company focused on the development of innovative phage-based
products and technologies for the detection, prevention and control of
bacterial infections, reported today improved financial results for its third
quarter ended August 31, 2007.

Overview of Operations

Biophage reached an important milestone in its Biosensors Division in the
third quarter of 2007. The company launched the PDS(R) Biosensor at the
Nanotoxicity 2007 Trade show in Paris, France on June 27, 2007. This product
represents the first of many innovative biosensors in development by our
Biosensor Division. Biophage President and CEO, Dr. Mandeville, made a
presentation on the PDS(R) technology platform and the targeted markets for
this biosensor, which was designed for the rapid detection of toxicity
(predictive toxicity) of metals and nanoparticles.
The global demand for biosensors capable of rapidly detecting the toxic
effect of metals or nanoparticles on living human cells is exploding.
According to a recent BBC technical market research report, the U.S. in vitro
toxicity testing (predictive toxicity) market had a value of $765 million in
2006 and will double by 2011, reaching $1.5 billion. Biophage is well
positioned to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market by offering
companies and research laboratories a novel and efficient biosensor that can
rapidly screen large numbers of compounds for cell toxicity.
The PDS(R) Biosensor allows for the rapid and simultaneous screening of a
large number of toxic compounds, metals and nanoparticles and determines their
relative level of toxicity. It can also identify important parameters that
determine toxicity levels at various stages of development and manufacturing,
allowing companies to explore different strategies to circumvent potential
toxic effects or mitigate the risk to humans, animals and the environment. Our
targeted clients are government and regulatory agencies, research laboratories
and environmental investigators in the biopharmaceutical, agricultural,
cosmetics and probiotics fields.
In the Therapeutics Division, Biophage signed an important Memorandum of
Understanding (M.O.U.) with Hygie Canada of Longueuil, Quebec. Under the terms
of this M.O.U., both parties will engage in the development of an
environment-friendly system that utilizes naturally occurring phages in either
a liquid form or bound to plastic in order to reduce the incidence of
nosocomial infections. L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal will play a key
role in this development.
Nosocomial infections (infections acquired in hospitals) are a major
cause of health-care complications, with important socio-economic impacts such
as prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality and morbidity and significant
increases in health costs. In North America, nosocomial infections are the
fourth leading cause of death. Since April 2003, several Quebec hospitals have
reported an increase in the incidence of morbidity and mortality resulting
from C. difficile infections. Nosocomial infections have become more prevalent
in the last few years with an alarming increase in bacterial superbugs, which
are resistant to antibiotics (for example Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA) infections).
Currently, in the fight against the propagation of nosocomial infections,
potentially toxic chemical agents are used for the decontamination of the
health-care environment. The use of these chemicals can have serious
repercussions as for example, chemical toxicity, development of bacterial
resistance and physical deterioration of treated surfaces. Natural products
such as phages have evolved to become a viable alternative for the prevention
and control of nosocomial infections. These phage-based products can also be
developed as therapeutic agents, covering the various levels of bacterial
contamination.
On August 28, 2007 Biophage Pharma announced the signing of a follow-on
contract with Alberta Agriculture and Food. As the direct result of a
successful pilot study (previously announced on April 3, 2007), Biophage and
Alberta Agriculture and Food have now entered into an agreement to proceed
with the production of large-scale volumes of highly purified bacteriophage
preparations in a fermentor. Securing this contract marks the beginning of a
new business opportunity for Biophage and strengthens its relationship with
Alberta Agriculture and Food. The completion of this second contract will
bring Biophage in a position to offer biotech companies working in this field,
as well as food producers and distributors, the commercial volumes of
bacteriophages required to prevent bacterial contaminations throughout the
supply chain, from the farm field to packaged products on store shelves.
Since the landmark U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling of August
2006 allowing the use of phage preparations on ready-to-use-meat and poultry
products, Biophage has received several inquiries from food producers and
distributors who recognize the commercial potential of this innovative, safe
and environmentally friendly solution for the control of bacterial
contaminations.

Financial Results

Contract revenues for the three months ended August 31, 2007 amounted to
$148,587 compared with $184,311 in the same three month period in fiscal 2006.
The decrease in substantially attributable to the completion of significant
projects with important clients and slightly lower revenues from Beryllium
(BeLPT) testing, although partially offset by an increase in revenues
generated from MELISA(R) testing. Contract revenue for the nine months ended
August 31, 2007 amounted to $434,681, compared to $604,834 for the nine months
ended August 31, 2006.
Research and development ("R&D") costs for the three months ended
August 31, 2007 (before tax credits) amounted to $143,337, representing an
increase of $27,167, or 23%, over the $116,170 recorded in the same interim
period in the preceding fiscal year. The increase is substantially
attributable to the hiring of additional staff affected to R&D. R&D tax
credits for the third quarter amounted to $68,983, including a $30,000
provision for the interim period (21% of the R&D costs recorded in the three
months ended August 31, 2007) and $38,983 from a favorable assessment and
refund received in early June 2007 in regards to the previous fiscal year's
provisioned R&D tax credits. This compares to a $20,000 provision for the
three month period ended August 31, 2006, which represented 17% of the R&D
costs recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. For the nine months ended
August 31, 2007, R&D costs totaled $409,538, representing a $115,381, or 39%
increase over the $294,157 recorded in the equivalent nine-month interim
period in the previous fiscal year, whereby the increase is also attributable
to additional staff and efforts towards R&D.
Costs of contracts for the three months ended August 31, 2007 amounted to
$98,385, some $31,794, or 24% lower than the $130,179 incurred during the same
period in the preceding fiscal year. The decrease is principally attributable
to lower laboratory supplies and office expenses (commensurate with the
decline in contract revenue between the two interim periods) as well as to the
departure of an employee in the contract services laboratory. For the nine
months ended August 31, 2007, costs of contracts amounted to $340,872,
representing a $21,882 decrease from the $362,754 recorded in the comparable
period in 2006, which decline is principally attributable to lower laboratory
supplies and office expenses.
General and administrative expenses totalled $111,237 for the three
months ended August 31, 2007, representing a decrease of $67,962, or 38%,
compared to the $179,199 for the three month period ended August 31, 2006. The
decrease is principally attributable to a decrease in professional fees
incurred during the interim period compared to that of the corresponding three
month period in fiscal 2006. For the nine months ended August 31, 2007,
general and administrative expenses totalled $445,553, representing a $73,620,
or 14% decrease relative to the $519,173 incurred in the corresponding
nine-month period in fiscal 2006, whereby the decrease is also principally
attributable to lower professional fees incurred in the period.
Biophage's net loss for the three month period ended August 31, 2007
amounted to $187,759 ($0.00 per share) compared to a net loss of $239,779
($0.01 per share) for the corresponding three month period in the preceding
fiscal year. The improvement is attributable to lower general and
administrative expenses, to the favorable assessment and refund received in
early June 2007 in regards to the fiscal 2006 provisioned R&D tax credits and
to the lower costs of contracts, although partially offset by lower contract
revenues, increased R&D efforts and the write-down of certain patents during
the interim period. The net loss for the nine months ended on August 31, 2007
amounted to $801,097, compared to a loss of $567,580 for the corresponding
nine-month period in fiscal 2006.

Liquidity and Financial Resources

As at August 31, 2007 Biophage had cash and cash equivalents of $155,578
compared to $214,344 at November 30, 2006. The decrease in cash and cash
equivalents from November 30, 2006 levels is substantially attributable cash
used in operating activities (after changes in non-cash working capital items)
and the repayment of the R&D tax credits-related loan, although partially
offset by cash received through the private placements completed during the
nine month period) as well as the loan secured with Investment Quebec ("IQ")
as described below.
During December 2006 and February 2007, the Corporation issued
4,045,458 units through private placement. Each unit is made up of one common
share and one common share purchase warrant, with each such warrant
exercisable for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.17 per common
share. The 4,045,458 units were issued for a total cash consideration of
$525,910.
In early June 2007, the Corporation received its tax credits refund in
relation to research and development expenses incurred in fiscal 2006. The
refund was used to repay the Corporation's short term debt in its entirety
($100,000 as at May 31, 2007), which loan had been contracted to finance said
tax credits.
On July 16, 2007, the Corporation announced that its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Biophage Inc., had secured a $550,000 loan facility from IQ
payable in instalments. On July 16, 2007, a first instalment of $150,000 was
made and 38,181 warrants were issued to IQ. On September 19, 2007 and
October 15, 2007, a second and third instalment of $50,000 each were
respectively made to the Corporation under its loan facility with IQ. Pursuant
to their agreement, the Corporation issued 11,400 warrants and 12,396 warrants
to IQ in connection to the second and third instalments, respectively.
More detailed information regarding the foregoing can be found in the
interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and related management
discussion and analysis which have been filed today on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage is a Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development
of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection,
prevention and control of bacterial infections. Biophage operates three
divisions: (1) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in
Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitivity testing (BeLPT) and
exclusive MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than
200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten, pollens and more
recently Lyme disease (Boreliosis); (2) The Biosensors division for the
development and commercialization of Biosensors PDS(R); and (3) The
Therapeutics division for the prevention and control of bacterial
contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields. Both the
Biosensor and Phage therapy programs have been structured to deliver an
environmentally safe solution for the early detection and rapid control of
deadly microorganisms.
(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.com).

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma Completes successful pilot study with Alberta Agriculture and Food - Large-scale production of phages gets green light

08:30 EDT Tuesday, August 28, 2007

MONTREAL, Aug. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG) - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX.V: BUG "Biophage") is pleased to announce the signing of a follow-on contract with Alberta Agriculture and Food. As the direct result of a successful pilot study (previously announced on April 3, 2007), Biophage and Alberta Agriculture and Food have now entered into an agreement to proceed with the production of large-scale volumes of highly purified bacteriophage preparations in a fermentor.

Securing this contract marks the beginning of a new business opportunity for Biophage and strengthens its relationship with Alberta Agriculture and Food. The completion of this second contract will bring Biophage in a position to offer biotech companies working in this field, as well as food producers and distributors, the commercial volumes of bacteriophages required to prevent bacterial contaminations throughout the supply chain, from the farm field to packaged products on store shelves.

Since the landmark U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling of August 2006 allowing the use of phage preparations on ready-to-use-meat products, Biophage has received several inquiries from food producers and distributors who recognize the commercial potential of bacteriophages as an innovative, safe and environmentally friendly solution for the control of bacterial contaminations.

Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO said: "The successful completion of the pilot study and the signing of this follow-on contract with Alberta Agriculture and Food in just three months demonstrate that our technologies and know-how are sound and solidify our position as a leading provider of highly purified phages to the food industry and Biotech companies. We expect this production line to generate a continuous revenue stream in the coming years as more food producers and distributors incorporate phage therapy in their production chain in order to control and prevent bacterial contaminations."

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage is a Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection, prevention and control of bacterial infections. Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitivity testing (BeLPT) and exclusive MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten, pollens and more recently Lyme disease (Boreliosis); (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors PDS(R); and (3) The Therapeutics division for the prevention and control of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields. Both the Biosensor and Phage therapy programs have been structured to deliver an environmentally safe solution for the early detection and rapid control of deadly microorganisms.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net)


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

or accuracy of this release.

%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD., President and CEO, Biophage Pharma Inc., [phone], [e-mail]; Louis Guindon, Chief Financial officer, Biophage Pharma Inc., [phone], [e-mail]

[krisryden]

Biophage reports that its PDS®-16 biosensor can determine cyanobacteria toxicity
08-14-2007

In vitro test results obtained in 24 hours versus 7 days in animal bioassay.

Montreal, August 14, 2007 - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) is very pleased to announce that its PDS®-16 Biosensor can determine the toxic effects (predictive toxicity) of Cyanobacteria on living cells. Cyanotoxins provided by U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) were used to generate data demonstrating that this biosensor can detect toxins produced by Cyanobacteria in a vastly improved time frame.

Cyanobacterial toxins are a major determinant of health effects associated with ingestion of water contaminated by Cyanobacteria. Despite the growing awareness of this important issue, rapid and precise methodologies that can detect and quantify the effects of these toxins on living cells are still a major challenge. Actually, toxicity methods rely essentially on animal bioassay and take about 7 days to be completed. Our technology is an automated cell growth assay that is simple, easy to use and label-free allowing on-line monitoring of toxicity within 24 hours.



"At Biophage we are extremely pleased to announce that our recently launched PDS® -16 Biosensor system can be used for the detection of Cyanotoxins in fresh water. These results open completely new markets for our biosensors in assessing health risks associated with exposure to Cyanotoxins. Currently, the global market for water safety monitoring and purification represents a multi-billion dollar opportunity" stated Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma Inc. "Cyanobacteria contamination of fresh water and marine environments worldwide indicate potential problems for widespread human and animal health risks. We believe that our PDS®-16 Biosensor could provide faster exposure assessment and long-term monitoring of our rivers and lakes," concluded Dr Mandeville.

[Ubertino]

Interesting stuff - a virus to kill bacteria and a virus engineered to kill a virus:

Scientists Build Bacteria-Killing Organisms From Scratch
By Brandon Keim July 10, 2007 | 3:49:07 PMCategories: Synthetic Biology

By hacking a virus with artificial DNA, researchers at MIT and Boston University created a bacteria-killing machine that demonstrates the potential of synthetic biology.

The original virus -- called a bacteriophage, as it targets bacteria -- was modified with plug-and-play DNA sequences that made it produce enzymes that kill e. coli and break down the protein layers secreted by bacterial colonies. These layers, known as biofilms, insulate bacteria from regular bacteriophages (and antibiotics). The films make it difficult to keep medical equipment and water supply systems sterile.

To test the engineered T7 phage, the team cultivated E. coli biofilms on plastic pegs. They found that their engineered phage eliminated 99.997% of the bacterial biofilm cells, an improvement by two orders of magnitude over the phage's nonengineered cousin.

I talked to the lead investigator, James Collins, for an upcoming article on synthetic biology regulation. We discussed this latest work, and his description of the mechanism was pretty cool:

It's hard to get into biofilms. So we engineered the bacteriophages, once they got inside, to express an enzyme that would degrade the biofilm. Once inside the cell, they actually use cell's own machinery to do that. In addition, they make copies of themselves ... and then, when the cell bursts, it infects other bacteria.

And the biggest news about the new phage isn't what it could do to e. coli, but how the technique could be broadly applied:

The team's modular strategy can be thought of as a "plug and play" library, says Collins. "The library could contain different phages that target different species or strains of bacteria, each constructed using related design principles to express different enzymes."

A broad Wired survey of synthetic biology here http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/mit.html .

Team builds viruses to combat harmful 'biofilms' [MIT]
http://www.physorg.com/news102951008.html

Dispersing biofilms with engineered enzymatic bacteriophage [PNAS]
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/104/27/11197

now only if they could figure out how to build a virus to kill a virus from scratch :P

Posted by: jay | Jul 10, 2007 7:11:07 PM

This is incredible; this will change how we fight all manner of diseases. If they can do it with bacteria it may be only a matter of time before its done for viruses like HIV and AIDS.

Posted by: Rob | Jul 10, 2007 9:03:45 PM

Uhh... Rob, AIDS isn't a virus...

Posted by: jon | Jul 10, 2007 11:25:55 PM

Uhh... Rob, AIDS isn't a virus...

Posted by: jon | Jul 10, 2007 11:26:04 PM

I seem to remember seeing a documentary about Russians using Bacteriophages as a therapy instead of antibiotics (something only revealed after the collapse of the Soviet Union). It was at a time when the media was again concerned about antibiotic resistant bacteria. It sounded like a fantastic solution because the viruses evolved/mutated in unison with the bacteria as they improved their defences. In the documentary an American (I think) was investing in the research, but that was the last I heard of it until I saw this article now (not that I've been looking). Hopefully something will come from this and we can see some movement on antibiotic resistant bacteria whether it's MRSA or resistant strains of TB.

Posted by: Issac | Jul 11, 2007 12:24:47 AM

uhh, jon - don't be smart.

as for engineering viruses to do a similar thing to other viruses, there's a much larger gap to cross. The approach used by the phage viruses is to use the host organism's own reproductive capacity to propagate the virus itself, because a virus has no reproductive capacity of it's own. it is mostly just a protective protein layer with DNA inside.

so to have a virus effectively attack other viruses we need to to do 2 things,

1) excrete a protien to destroy other viruses

2) infect another organisms' cells in order to reproduce.

it might not seem like too much of an ask, but in reality the ballancing is not that easy because a virus' offensive mechanism is usually devoted to getting into the type of cells it needs in order to reproduce, and since they cannot reproduce inside other viruses, there's a step missing in the equation.

One exiting area we are looking into is creating what we call "programmer viruses" which are organisms that attack other viruses and reprogram their DNA with a new sequence that activates when the targeted virus reproduces in it's own host cell. Instead of reproducing another of the targeted viruses, a programmer is produced instead. This way the harmful virus becomes the agent of its own destruction.

quite poetic really!

-- Dr. C

Posted by: Dr. C | Jul 11, 2007 2:04:26 AM

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/07/designer-virus-.html

[krisryden]

Excellent news! Finally a commercial product launch.

[oasdihf]

Biophage advertises PDS biosensor in Paris

2007-06-27 10:12 ET - News Release

Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville reports

BIOPHAGE ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL LAUNCH OF ITS PDS(R) BIOSENSOR AT NANOTOXICITY 2007 TRADE SHOW IN PARIS; BIOSENSOR OFFERS SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE DETECTION METHOD AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL TOXICITY TESTING

Biophage Pharma Inc.'s PDS biosensor will make its commercial debut today at the Nanotoxicity 2007 trade show in Paris, France. This product represents the first of many innovative biosensors in development by the company's biosensor division. Biophage president and chief executive officer Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville will make a presentation on the PDS technology platform and the targeted markets for this biosensor, which was designed for the rapid detection of toxicity (predictive toxicity) of metals and nanoparticles.

The global demand for biosensors capable of rapidly detecting the toxic effect of metals or nanoparticles on living human cells is exploding. According to a recent BBC technical market research report, the United States in vitro toxicity testing (predictive toxicity) market had a value of $765-million in 2006 and will double by 2011, reaching $1.5-billion. Biophage is well positioned to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market by offering companies and research laboratories a novel and efficient biosensor that can rapidly screen large numbers of compounds for cell toxicity.

The PDS biosensor allows for the rapid and simultaneous screening of a large number of toxic compounds, metals and nanoparticles and determines their relative level of toxicity. It can also identify important parameters that determine toxicity levels at various stages of development and manufacturing, allowing companies to explore different strategies to circumvent potential toxic effects or mitigate the risk to humans, animals and the environment. The company's targeted clients are government and regulatory agencies, research laboratories, and environmental investigators in the biopharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetics and probiotics fields.

"After many years of research and development, we are extremely pleased to have reached this important commercial milestone. I would like to congratulate our PDS biosensor development team who worked tirelessly to achieve our projected 2007 Q2 completion date, particularly Dr. Beatrice Allain (research and development director)," stated Dr. Mandeville, president and chief executive officer of Biophage Pharma. "This versatile biosensor provides a user-friendly, rapid and safer, in vitro toxicological first screening detection method. It represents a viable, cost-effective alternative for toxicity testing, and at the same time, offers customers a 'politically correct' solution which addresses the controversial issue of animal testing," continued Dr. Mandeville.

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma signs an important M.O.U. with Hygie Canada to develop phage products to combat nosocomial infections

07:41 EDT Wednesday, May 30, 2007

L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal will play a key role in this development

MONTREAL, May 30 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) with Hygie Canada of Longueuil, Quebec. Under the terms of this M.O.U., both parties will engage in the development of an environment-friendly system that utilizes naturally occurring phages in either a liquid form or bound to plastic in order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections. L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal will play a key role in this development.

Nosocomial infections (infections acquired in hospitals) are a major cause of health-care complications, with important socio-economic impacts such as prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality and morbidity and significant increases in health costs. In North America, nosocomial infections are the fourth leading cause of death. Since April 2003, several Quebec hospitals have reported an increase in the incidence of morbidity and mortality resulting from C. difficile infections. Nosocomial infections have become more prevalent in the last few years with an alarming increase in bacterial superbugs, which are resistant to antibiotics (for example Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections).

Currently, in the fight against the propagation of nosocomial infections, potentially toxic chemical agents are used for the decontamination of the health-care environment. The use of these chemicals can have serious repercussions as for example, chemical toxicity, development of bacterial resistance and physical deterioration of treated surfaces. Natural products such as phages have evolved to become a viable alternative for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections. These phage-based products can also be developed as therapeutic agents, covering the various levels of bacterial contamination.

"The co-development of phage-based products represents a significant business opportunity for Biophage. These products will have important applications in the prevention and control of nosocomial infections, as well as for the treatment of patients with weakened conditions" said Dr. Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biophage Pharma Inc. "Sacré-Coeur Hospital and Hygie Canada are two important partners in this project from the scientific and the medical perspective, as well as for the marketing of these products" Dr Mandeville added.

"Hygie Canada is very pleased to be associated with Biophage. We will combine our resources and expertise with Biophage's technological knowledge in the development and commercialisation of phage-based products, which will respond to the needs of various health-care systems. This alliance will further extend the applications of our respective platforms for the development of natural decontamination systems for hospital wards and instrumentation," said M. Richard Tanguay, President of Hygie Canada.

"L'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal is proud to collaborate in this project and to contribute to the development of ecological techniques for the management and control of the propagation of potentially harmful bacteria for humans, particularly in a hospital environment. The co-development of this project with Biophage, specialists in the development of phage products, will be crucial in order to succeed in the different stages necessary to develop new products for the control of nosocomial infections," declared Dr. Pichette, microbiologist-infectiologist at the Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal.


About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection, prevention and control of bacterial infections. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a compact PDS96(R) Biosensor which is now in the pre-commercialization stage; (2) The phage therapy division for the prevention and control of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten, pollens and more recently Lyme disease (boreliosis).

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.com)


About Hygie Canada


Hygie Canada is a forward-looking company and is proud to bring innovative products to the Canadian health-care industry. Hygie Canada distributes a variety of innovative hygienic products, destined to the medical (hospitals, geriatric and home health-care services) and paramedical sectors. In doing so, Hygie Canada aims to offer economic and hygienic solutions to the health-care providers, while pursuing partnerships to advance research and technology, to benefit all aspects of health-care.

(www.hygiecanada.com)


About Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal


Hôpital du Sacré-C?ur de Montréal (HSCM) is a supra-regional health centre affiliated with the University de Montréal. It provides general, specialized and ultra specialized treatment, as well as regional services in hyperbaric therapy, and is a tertiary trauma centre. HSCM is also a centre for teaching, research and evaluation regarding intervention techniques and technologies. A crucial link in the Quebec health-care network, it primarily serves the population of northwestern Montreal, as well as the Laval, Laurentians, Lanaudière and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions. (www.hscm.ca)


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

or accuracy of this release.

%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD., President and Chief Executive Officer, [phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Investor relations, Christine Stewart: [e-mail]; Tina Cameron: [e-mail], [phone], Fax: [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com; Hygie Canada: Frédérick Soares, Communication Director, [phone], [e-mail]; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal: Lyne Arcand, Communications Service, [phone], ext. 2048, [e-mail]

[krisryden]

Biophage Pharma Appoints Infectious Disease Expert To Scientific Advisory Committee
05-22-2007


Montreal, May 22, 2007 – (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Maximilien Arella to its Scientific Advisory Committee. As a member of various national and international committees on infectious diseases and expression of recombinant proteins, Dr. Arella brings to Biophage his extensive research and international skills in the field of infectious diseases, molecular biology and monoclonal antibody development.

Dr. Arella received his Ph.D. in Virology from Institut Armand-Frappier/University of Quebec in 1983 and completed his post-doctoral training at Hoffmann-Laroche (New Jersey, USA). Since 1984 he has been a Professor of Virology at Institut Armand Frappier/University of Quebec, and was also director of the Virology Research Center between 1993 and 1998. He is an adjunct professor at both the University of Montreal and the University of Charlottetown.

Dr. Arella is currently on a leave-of-absence from the University and is presently engaged in several national and international projects. He is also involved as an investor and president of several national and international companies in the field of biotechnology, primarily relating to successful technology transfer projects in Japan and Europe. Dr. Arella sits on the board of several private and public companies, including international pharmaceutical companies.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Arella has decided to join our Scientific Advisory Committee. His experience and expertise in the field of immunology and infectious diseases as well as his national and international network of collaborators will be an important asset to Biophage. His contributions will enhance our ability to commercialize our products and services and expedite market penetration”, said Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biophage Pharma.

“It will be a pleasure to bring my biomedical expertise to the Biophage Scientific Advisory Committee. Biophage’s current development programs are uniquely suited to take advantage of my own particular skill set. I look forward to incorporating my wide ranging scientific and entrepreneurial experiences, as well as my network of collaborators, to advance the development of Biophage pipeline of products and services, as well as technology transfer of projects related to the business at Biophage”, stated Dr. Arella.

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma Featured on CBC Television
Fri May 4, 8:32 AM

MONTREAL, May 4 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX-V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) announced today that CBC television will broadcast a special report on Biophage's development capability, expertise and know-how in phage production in relation to an important contract recently obtained from Alberta Agriculture and Food. This report will be broadcasted today on CBC News Business at 6:30 PM. The same report will also be broadcasted on CBC News Weekly over the weekend (Saturday at 6:30 AM and 12:30 PM and on Sunday at 5:30 AM, Eastern Time). This work looks at the possibility of cleaning animals from E. coli 0157 before slaughter. Biophage is using this contract as a showcase in order to demonstrate its capabilities in large-scale production and purification of bacteriophage preparations in bioreactors. Securing this contract marks the beginning of a new business opportunity for Biophage in the large-scale production of phage preparations, especially since phages were approved for use as food additives.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection, prevention and control of bacterial infections. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS96(R) Biosensor which is now in the pre-commercialization stage; (2) The phage therapy division for the prevention and control of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.com )


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

or accuracy of this release.

[krisryden]

Great news! The pieces are beginning to fall into place.

KR

[oasdihf]

Biophage to conduct study for Alberta Agriculture

http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=18431965

[oasdihf]

Based on following found below from MD&A, BUG should have cash and cash equivalents of $346,926 (calculated as $214,344 + $139,560 - $6,978). With the recent financing, O/S shares on fully dilluted basis are 55,621,114 (also confirmed in MD&A). They better start breaking even soon.

----------------------------------------------

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At November 30, 2006, Biophage had cash and cash equivalents of $214,344 compared to $187,639 at November 30, 2005. The consolidated financial statements included a note on the Corporation’s ability to continue as a going concern (see note 1 in financial statement) is dependent on its ability to raise additional financing.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On December 22, 2006, the Corporation issued, subject to regulatory approval, 1,073,537 units as part of a private placement financing. Each unit is made up of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (each such warrant is exercisable at the price of $0.17 for a period of 2 years). The 1,073,537 units are issued at a price of $0.13 per unit for a total consideration of $139,560. In the course of issuance of these units, $6,978 was paid and 107,353 warrants were issued as broker fees.

OUTSTANDING SHARES DATA
As of March 29, 2007, the information on outstanding securities was as follows:
Common shares: 42,948,912
Warrants: 12,323,852
Options: 348,350

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma announces 2006 financial results
Friday March 30, 2:45 pm ET

MONTREAL, March 30 /CNW Telbec/ - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX: BUG.V - News), a high potential, revenue driven biotechnology company focused on the development of an integrated approach for the prevention and control of bacterial infections, announced today its financial results and review of operating hightlights for the year ended November 30, 2006.

Biophage focuses on the development of products that address the large infectious disease market with unmet needs. Biophage operates three different divisions: (1) the Biosensor Division; (2) the Therapeutic Division and (3) the service division, Immunotox Labs. We develop advanced, environmentally friendly-patented technologies, to create value and build a superior investment return for our shareholders.

In the Biosensor Division, our lead product the Compact PDS96(R) biosensor is in the pre-commercialization stage. This biosensor measures in a highly efficient and easy to use automated system, extremely small electrical variations induced by bacterial growth. This biosensor will find applications in many different industries, including the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries, food quality and safety sectors as well as in environmental monitoring and homeland security. Biophage is also developing four news biosensors: The BacTrapping(R) system, the micro-fluidics system, the "FastBac" biosensor and the e.sensor.

In the Therapeutic Division, since the groundbreaking announcement by FDA on August 19, 2006 on the safety of phages in the treatment of meat, Biophage has accelerated its phage therapy program. We are now developing phage preparations that aim at providing a safe and environmentally friendly solution for the prevention and control of undesirable and deadly bacteria in food produce (including meat, fruits and vegetable). Our first product is Listex(TM), a phage preparation produced by EBI Food Safety and distributed in North America by Biophage. Two other phage preparations Coli(R) Pro and Salmo(R) Pro, are in an advanced development stage.

Immunotox Labs provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitization testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitivity to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens. We are aiming at extending our core services to include Ecotoxicology and Nanotoxicity screening in order to increase our revenues and offset the needs for additional financing.

Revenues from the contracts amounted to $779,996 despite competitive pressures and decreased demand in the pharmaceutical service sector. This decrease in revenue was mainly due to a completion of a significant project with an important contractor and was partially offset by the increased revenues generated by Beryllium testing, which increased substantially this year. We also started generating revenues from MELISA(R) testing. In February 2006, Biophage signed an exclusive licence for the commercialisation of this technology. This year, MELISA(R) tests have contributed positively in the increase of our revenues and will continue to generate revenues in the coming years.

During fiscal 2006, Biophage continued its efforts to streamline its activities in order to manage burn rate, awaiting a general improvement in the market for small-cap biotech companies. These steps protected both the integrity of the Corporation and the long-term value for its shareholders.

 
 	    SELECTED ANNUAL INFORMATION 
  
 	    Statements of Operations                  2006         2005         2004 
  
 	    Total revenues                         784,394      909,453    1,067,948 
  
 	    Total expenses                       1,647,713    1,627,477    1,883,440 
  
 	    Net loss for the year                 (863,319)    (718,024)    (815,492) 
 	    Weighted average number of 
 	     common shares outstanding          36,534,695   32,221,995   28,450,615 
 	    Basic and diluted loss per share         (0.02)       (0.02)       (0.03) 
  
 	    BALANCE SHEETS 
  
 	    Working capital                         77,653      226,765      789,984 
 	    Total assets                         1,016,561      824,091    1,539,519 
 	    Total long-term liabilities                Nil          Nil          Nil 
 	    Shareholders' equity                   540,402      544,797    1,183,046 
 	    Common shares outstanding           42,948,912   32,470,551   32,221,312 
 

More detailed information regarding the foregoing can be found in the
financial statements and the management discussion and analysis of those
financial statements which have been filed today on www.sedar.com.
Biophage wishes to rectify the information provided in its press release
issued on December 22, 2006, announcing the closing of the first tranche of
its private placement. The said press release states that 107,353 common share
purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.17 per share until December 22,
2008 were granted to Boom Capital Inc., whereas it should have mentioned
82,094 common share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.17 per
share until December 22, 2008.

About Biophage Pharma inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential Canadian biotechnology company focused
on the development of novel phage-based biosensors for live pathogen
diagnostics and cytotoxicity screening. Founded in 1995, Biophage has now
completed the final design of its PDS(R) Biosensor first prototype and is
entering in the pre-commercialization stage. The Corporation has also an
important profit center that provides services in Immunology/Immunotoxicology,
in Beryllium sensitivity testing as well as allergy to more than 20 different
metals and a very large number of allergens including antibiotics (penicillin,
Gentamycin) and pollens.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information

Biophage Pharma Inc: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD. President and Chief Executive Officer, [phone], [e-mail]
Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart: [e-mail]
Maurice Dagenais: [e-mail]
[phone], Fax: [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com

[oasdihf]

Alberta hospital closed after superbug, sterilization problems
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | 6:08 PM MT
CBC News

Health officials are reviewing four years of patient records at a rural Alberta hospital after an investigation into a superbug outbreak revealed that hospital equipment wasn't properly sterilized.

Dr. Gerhard Benadé, the region's medical health officer, issued a public health order Friday requiring St. Joseph's General Hospital in Vegreville to halt all admissions and close its sterilization room. The order was not made public until Tuesday.

Benadé discovered the sterilization problem while investigating an outbreak among patients of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Seven patients in the 25-bed hospital east of Edmonton contracted the antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection over a one-month period beginning in mid-January.

"These are minor infections, usually skin infections, if any symptoms at all," said Dr. Karen Grimsrud, deputy provincial health officer.

Grimsrud said the bug is generally spread by health-care workers not washing their hands between patients.

While investigating the outbreak, Benadé uncovered the unrelated problem of improper sterilization of medical equipment at the hospital.

Benadé said it was the first time he had been in the sterilization room since he started his job six years ago, and he made the decision to shut the room down as soon as he saw the problem.

He said the risk to patients is low.

"We want to be transparent with this process. It is entirely about patient safety. We will err on the side of caution. We will identify every single individual that might potentially be at risk."

Health officials are now checking records of patients back to April 2003, including those who had surgeries or emergency room procedures. They are sending letters to those exposed to equipment that was inadequately sterilized and advising them to get tested for HIV, as well as hepatitis B and C.

Alberta Health Minister Dave Hancock said although the risk to patients is low, it is prudent to review four years of medical records just in case.

"What we do know is that patients who have had surgical procedures or treatment in the emergency room at St. Joseph's may be at very low risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens," he said.

Contaminated with tissue, blood
The emergency room alone sees 14,000 people every year.

Grimsrud confirmed that for one biopsy procedure alone — cystoscopy — 80 patients were being contacted. Scopes used during surgery need to be thoroughly sterilized, but that wasn't happening at St. Joseph's, she said.

"There's tissue and blood left from the previous patient in that scope if it was not cleaned thoroughly with a brush and scrubbed and then is put into a sterilizer, so the concern was then the scope used on the next patient may still have material in it that can then transmit either HIV, hep B or hep C."

Benadé said if blood tests show anyone contracted HIV or any other disease at the hospital, officials will search for patients from even earlier dates.

Emergency and acute-care patients at the hospital in east-central Alberta are being sent to other nearby hospitals, and medical equipment requiring sterilization is also being sent to other hospitals.

Online source:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/03/20/vegreville-hospital.html

[oasdihf]

Recall Of Chicken Breast Strips For Possible Listeria Contamination

Carolina Culinary Foods, a West Columbia, S.C., firm, is voluntarily expanding its Feb.18 recall of fully cooked Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich chicken breast cuts and strips that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

The front of each package subject to this recall bears the establishment number "P-19676" inside the USDA mark of inspection. On the back of each package appears a "Use by" date. Products subject to recall bear a "Use by" date earlier than "28 MAY 2007." The expanded recall totals approximately 2.8 million pounds.

Only the following Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich chicken breast cuts and strips are subject to recall. The list is inclusive of products included in both the original and expanded recall actions.

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat, Southwestern Seasoned."

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Grilled."

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Restaurant Style Breaded Chicken Breast Strips."

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Italian Style."

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts with Rib Meat."

• 6-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken, Honey Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts with Rib Meat."

• 12-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Grilled."

• 12-ounce packages of "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Southwestern Seasoned."

The expanded recall is based on additional sampling initiated by Kraft Foods and conducted at a non-government laboratory. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. The chicken breast cuts and strips were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. Consumers can also contact the McDonough County Health Department at [phone].

Online source:
http://www.emaxhealth.com/75/10113.html

[oasdihf]

This is a huge story in the UK and demonstrates the opportunities for Biophage's LISTEX(TM) product:

Listeria risk in sandwiches
News Shopper, UK

SANDWICHES supplied to schools, businesses and hosptials across News Shopper's regions may have been contaminated with listeria.

The problem was identified by Ashford Council during routine sampling tests.

Food supplied to a range of establishments in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, Surrey and London could be affected, says the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

There have been no reported cases of illness caused by the sandwiches, says the Health Protection Agency.

The affected sandwiches have a use-by date between February 21 to March 14.

The Ashford-based catering compnay has voluntarily suspended production and informed its customers of the problem.

These includes schools, businesses and hospitals across Gravesend, Dartford, Lewisham, Bromley, Abbey Wood and Beckenham.

Listeria does not pose a threat to most people but could be serious for vulnerable people, says Food Standards Agency chief scientist Dr Andrew Wadge.

He said: "Although the company took prompt action to notify customers and withdraw the product, large numbers of sandwiches may have been consumed before the problem was detected."

Symptoms of the listeria infection can take up to 90 days to appear.

The illness starts with a fever, a flu-like illness and diarrhoea.

An investigation has been launched to identify the source of contamination.

Online source:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1267538.0.listeria_risk_in_sandwiches.php

[oasdihf]

Timebomb of listeria in poisoned sandwiches
Valerie Elliott and David Rose
From The Times
March 17, 2007

Thousands of sandwiches on sale in schools, hospitals, sports centres and council canteens throughout the South of England were at the centre of a food poisoning alert yesterday.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a warning about the possible threat to human health because symptoms — fever, flu-like illness and diarrhoea — sometimes take two to three months to become apparent.

Ready-made sandwiches sold under the Anchor Economy, Anchor Gourmet or Pomegranate labels may have been contaminated with the listeria bacterium for more than three weeks. Almost 250,000 packs could have been affected.

The Health Protection Agency said that the bug was particularly dangerous for pregnant women because infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby. Other groups at risk are the elderly, the very young and people receiving medical treatment that compromises the immune system, such as cancer patients having chemotherapy.

For most healthy adults the risk is low but severe cases can lead to fatal complications, including septicaemia and meningitis.

Public health chiefs are clearly nervous about the scale of the possible threat because many sandwiches were sold to hospitals and medical centres, although no illness has been reported.

A string of London hospitals, including the Royal Marsden, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Bart’s, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and the Royal London may be at risk. The Portland, a fashionable private maternity hospital, was also supplied.

Some sandwiches were for patients’ lunches, while others were for staff canteens, snack bars, coffee shops and other outpatient areas.

Sandwiches were also delivered to a range of schools, colleges and campuses. Among them are the King’s School, Canterbury, Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston, southwest London, and the University of Surrey.

Tourist attractions, including Leeds Castle, Hever Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Howletts Wild Animal Park, all in Kent, may be affected as well as delicatessens, catering firms and local authorities in Kent, Sussex, Essex and Greater London.

The contamination was found in routine testing at the Anchor Catering plant in Ashford, Kent. The company, whose website slogan reads “Let’s have something tasty!”, has stopped production in order to investigate the source of the contamination. It employs more than 45 staff at the site and is an approved NHS supplier.

The FSA was unable to specify the number of sandwiches at risk, although a spokeswoman suggested that it was as many as 10,000 a day.

These packs were sold over 22 days and had sell-by dates from February 21 to March 14. There was no spokesman available at Anchor.

The food watchdog was first informed about contamination on Monday by officers at Ashford Borough Council who had conducted testing on samples from the plant. Production at the plant ceased that day. Since then the company and enforcement officers have been assessing which products were affected and where they were supplied.

Graham Bickler, southeast director for the Health Protection Agency, said: “If [people] have eaten sandwiches from this company during the period in question and become ill within two to three months they must seek medical advice.” Infection can be treated effectively with antibiotics.

Andrew Wadge, the chief scientist at the FSA, said that large numbers of sandwiches may have been eaten before the problem was detected. The number of cases of listeria-related illness varies each year; 186 were reported last year in England and Wales.

— A full list of schools, hospitals and other premises that received suspect sandwiches is on the FSA website, which can be found at www.food.gov.uk .

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1527892.ece

[oasdihf]

Honduras Closes Hospital's Newborn Unit

Wednesday March 14, 2007 6:01 AM

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - The newborn unit of a main public hospital was closed indefinitely Tuesday after a bacterial outbreak killed six infants in two days, health officials said.

Two of the victims were the last surviving babies of quintuplets born Jan. 13, said Samuel Santos, chief of neonatology for the Mario Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula, 110 miles north of the capital of Tegucigalpa. The other three quintuplets had died earlier, apparently of unrelated causes.

``We have declared a state of emergency until it can be controlled,'' Santos said.

The bacteria, discovered a week ago, was identified as serratia marcescens, which is resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants, he said.

On Monday, 48 infants in the newborn unit were transferred to other areas of the hospital. A medical team is conducting an investigation.

Online source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6479002,00.html

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma signs an important M.O.U. with a2sp Limited and files a ground breaking patent application
Tue Mar 13, 8:35 AM

Integration of Magic Tag(R) technology to Biophage biosensor platform extends diagnostic capabilities

MONTREAL, March 13 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX-V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) and a2sp Limited (a2sp), a privately held UK biotech company (Warwick, England) announced today the signing of a collaborative agreement aimed at combining a2sp's Magic Tag(R) immobilization technology with the Biophage biosensor platform. Magic Tag(R) uses linkers, which are activated by daylight, for the immobilization of biomolecules (including phages) onto different surfaces such as magnetic beads, biosensors and micro-array surfaces.

Biophage and a2sp also announced that they have jointly filed a patent application on February 16, 2007 relating to "methods for immobilizing viruses (phages) using photo-reactive linkers".

The integration of Magic Tag(R) linkers with our biosensor platforms will result in a major enhancement of the diagnostic capabilities of Biophage biosensor technologies, the speed of immobilizing phages to different surfaces and the reduction of problems associated with non-specific binding (minimizing false results). Unlike other existing technologies that employ UV-light activated linkers, the new, specially designed Magic Tag(R) linkers are activated by daylight thereby avoiding the use of UV-light which could breakdown phages and proteins.

"With the integration of Magic Tag(R) immobilization technology, Biophage marks a new and very exciting development in our portfolio of products, extending the range of diseases we will now be able to diagnose to include viral infections, etc.", said Dr. Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biophage Pharma Inc. "The use of linkers is a ground breaking innovation in our detection platforms and is a major step forward in the development and commercialization of robust, reliable and rapid biosensors for the detection of a large number of diseases." concluded Dr. Mandeville.

"We are delighted to be working with Biophage Pharma combining our expertise in immobilization chemistry with Biophage's leading position in the use of phages. This collaboration further broadens the application of both technologies and intellectual property estate", said Dr Suzanne Dilly, Director of a2sp Limited.


About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a compact PDS96(R) biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net)


About a2sp Limited


a2sp Limited is a privately held UK biotechnology company providing Chemical Genomics Services for drug discovery. The core technology upon which the company was founded is licensed as Magic Tag(R) immobilization platform. This technology has a broad range of applications in chemical genomics, drug discovery, drug screening and to the immobilization of bio-molecules, measurement and characterization of small- and macro-molecules. Established in 2006, a2sp Limited is developing a portfolio of therapeutic programs based on the use of Magic Tag(R) technology to identify drug re-profiling opportunities.


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


Contacts

Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville
M.B.
Ch.B.
PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

a2sp Limited: Paul Taylor
PhD Director and Chief Scientific Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma signs an important M.O.U. with a2sp Limited and files a ground breaking patent application
Tue Mar 13, 8:35 AM

Integration of Magic Tag(R) technology to Biophage biosensor platform extends diagnostic capabilities

MONTREAL, March 13 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX-V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) and a2sp Limited (a2sp), a privately held UK biotech company (Warwick, England) announced today the signing of a collaborative agreement aimed at combining a2sp's Magic Tag(R) immobilization technology with the Biophage biosensor platform. Magic Tag(R) uses linkers, which are activated by daylight, for the immobilization of biomolecules (including phages) onto different surfaces such as magnetic beads, biosensors and micro-array surfaces.

Biophage and a2sp also announced that they have jointly filed a patent application on February 16, 2007 relating to "methods for immobilizing viruses (phages) using photo-reactive linkers".

The integration of Magic Tag(R) linkers with our biosensor platforms will result in a major enhancement of the diagnostic capabilities of Biophage biosensor technologies, the speed of immobilizing phages to different surfaces and the reduction of problems associated with non-specific binding (minimizing false results). Unlike other existing technologies that employ UV-light activated linkers, the new, specially designed Magic Tag(R) linkers are activated by daylight thereby avoiding the use of UV-light which could breakdown phages and proteins.

"With the integration of Magic Tag(R) immobilization technology, Biophage marks a new and very exciting development in our portfolio of products, extending the range of diseases we will now be able to diagnose to include viral infections, etc.", said Dr. Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biophage Pharma Inc. "The use of linkers is a ground breaking innovation in our detection platforms and is a major step forward in the development and commercialization of robust, reliable and rapid biosensors for the detection of a large number of diseases." concluded Dr. Mandeville.

"We are delighted to be working with Biophage Pharma combining our expertise in immobilization chemistry with Biophage's leading position in the use of phages. This collaboration further broadens the application of both technologies and intellectual property estate", said Dr Suzanne Dilly, Director of a2sp Limited.


About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a compact PDS96(R) biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net)


About a2sp Limited


a2sp Limited is a privately held UK biotechnology company providing Chemical Genomics Services for drug discovery. The core technology upon which the company was founded is licensed as Magic Tag(R) immobilization platform. This technology has a broad range of applications in chemical genomics, drug discovery, drug screening and to the immobilization of bio-molecules, measurement and characterization of small- and macro-molecules. Established in 2006, a2sp Limited is developing a portfolio of therapeutic programs based on the use of Magic Tag(R) technology to identify drug re-profiling opportunities.


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


Contacts

Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville
M.B.
Ch.B.
PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

a2sp Limited: Paul Taylor
PhD Director and Chief Scientific Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

[oasdihf]

Senator demands E. coli outbreak results
Last Update: Mar 10, 2007 1:51 PM

Senator Dean Florez is criticizing the California Department of Health Services on Friday after the department refused to release its report on September's deadly E. coli outbreak.
That outbreak, which killed several people and sickened hundreds, was linked to a California spinach farm, but the Department of Health Services refused to acknowledge which farm is responsible, and what went wrong.

Florez thinks the department is keeping the report from the public because he believes they "dropped the ball" when it comes to protecting the public from food-borne illnesses.

"When you have this cloud of secrecy and you have this whole department unwilling to come and tell the public ultimately what went wrong, why it went wrong, and ultimately who is responsible, it is very difficult for the public, I believe, to think the government is actually working toward the food safety policy," said Senator Florez, D-Shafter.

In a letter to the senator, the department said it would be premature to release the findings of the report at this time.

Online source:
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=c8977d62-649a-4f6a-85cb-83fa25314f5c

[oasdihf]

FDA announces extension of tainted peanut butter recall
By Associated Press
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Updated: 01:18 PM EST

WASHINGTON - ConAgra Foods Inc. has extended its recall of all peanut butter produced at a plant in Georgia by more than a year, back to October 2004, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The recall covers all Peter Pan peanut butter and all Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111, including peanut butter toppings.

Peanut butter has a long shelf life, and the FDA’s announcement reflects the ongoing investigation, said ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs. Any peanut butter matching the recall, regardless of the date, can be returned to the place of purchase, or customers can send the lid to ConAgra for a refund.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 425 people have fallen ill from the outbreak of salmonella that has been traced back to the plant in Sylvester, Ga.

The FDA warned consumers who have purchased any of the products since October 2004 to discard them, and not to eat any Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with 2111.

ConAgra on Feb. 14 recalled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter made at the Georgia plant after federal health officials linked the product to an outbreak that began in August. At that time the recall applied to all peanut butter made since December 2005.

To obtain a refund, consumers can return the product to the store where they bought it or mail in lids with their names and addresses to ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103.

___

On the Net: http://www.conagrafoods.com

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=187682

[oasdihf]

Hospitals must report superbugs by next year
Institutions will be required to provide information on rates of deadly infections
LISA PRIEST

Two superbugs sweeping through Canadian hospitals, striking the sick and killing thousands in their path, will soon have to be reported if institutions want accreditation.

The move highlights the potential dangers lurking in hospitals, where as many as 12,000 patients die each year from all types of infections.

"Hospitals are like a breeding ground for some of these infections," said Phil Hassen, chief executive officer of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, who said studies show tone in nine patients will acquire an infection in hospital.

Starting in January, 2008, the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation will compel virtually all acute-care hospitals -- in addition to those nursing homes and other institutions seeking a stamp of approval -- to provide the rates of methicillen-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Clostrodium difficile (C. difficile).

Currently, all health-care institutions seeking accreditation must monitor infection rates and share the results throughout their organizations.

The new requirement will compel those organizations to also track the rate of either MRSA or C. difficile as part of the accreditation process.

"When you look at SARS and you look at concerns of pandemic flu, it's important we put a stronger emphasis on infection prevention and control," said Wendy Nicklin, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, a non-profit, independent organization.

Although accreditation is voluntary, 99 per cent of Canada's acute-care hospitals participate, as do many nursing homes, some community health centres, home-care organizations and other health-care facilities.

The council accredits the 3,750 sites of 923 organizations.

This new reporting mechanism comes as the two bacteria, MRSA and C. difficile, have become a health-care nightmare. This is because institutions that care for premature infants, the immune-suppressed and the frail elderly have inadvertently created the perfect biological environment for the bugs to spawn.

In all, said Dick Zoutman, physician director of the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association of Canada, "we have between 8,000 and 12,000 Canadians who will die from a hospital infection each year. . . . That's more than traffic accidents, breast cancer and many other things we care deeply about."

In the case of MRSA, thousands of patients have been killed in the United States and Britain -- two countries that have found out the hard way that, once the bacterium has colonized in a hospital, it can be difficult to control.

This week, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre's neonatal intensive-care unit, located at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, was shut down because of an outbreak of methicillen-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. The hospital has assured the public that no other services have been affected.

MRSA can hide inside a nostril, survive on a hand or stay embedded in a piece of soiled clothing. It may show up as a blotch of reddened skin, or a painful, swollen pimple. The damage it inflicts can be minor and treated with a topical antibiotic, or it can be swift and merciless, resulting in septicemia, pneumonia, deep wound infections and decayed lungs.

Equally formidable is the Nap 1 strain of C. difficile. It creates a toxin factory that can damage the lining of the bowel, in some cases even perforating it. The strain has caused 2,000 deaths in Quebec since 2003.

Four patients who died at a large Ontario hospital over the past month tested positive for C. difficile. But Mississauga's Trillium Health Centre spokesman Larry Roberts stressed that C. difficile has not been established as the cause.

C. difficile is such a formidable hospital superbug that the Public Health Agency of Canada has called for all cases to be reported nationally. However, the agency's recommendation is not binding, and only Manitoba and Quebec compel institutions to report MRSA and C. difficile to provincial health bodies.

According to Michael Mulvey, chief of antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections at the National Microbiology Laboratory, those stricken by the Nap 1 strain are two times more likely than others with C. difficile to have a serious outcome, defined as an admission to a hospital intensive care unit, a colectomy -- an operation to remove part or all of the colon -- or death.

A Public Health Agency of Canada surveillance study of 34 hospitals found the Nap 1 strain was present in every province but Prince Edward Island -- and PEI does not have a hospital that participates in the program.

Moreover, the strain was present in about one-quarter of the 2,000 stool samples collected from Nov., 1, 2004, to April 30, 2005, a particularly troubling finding since that strain produces 10 times more toxins that other C. difficile strains.

"With over 300 strains of C. difficile, it can mutate continuously," said Denise Gravel, senior epidemiologist for the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program for the Public Health Agency of Canada. The agency is to embark on another surveillance study this month involving 50 hospitals.

Allison McGeer, director of infection control at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, said although the goal should be to eradicate every infection, no hospital can prevent them all.

However, Dr. McGeer said, "there are lots of model programs from hospitals and evidence from studies showing that we can prevent a much larger fraction of them." In fact, Mr. Hassen notes that "only 40 per cent of hospital workers appropriately wash their hands."

When Quebec was hit with the strain of C. difficile that caused 2,000 deaths since 2003, the provincial government pulled out all health-care stops to contain it.

Millions were poured into new hygiene measures, including frequent hand-washing by hospital personnel, visitors and patients, as well as better cleaning to help prevent its spread. In addition, infected patients were isolated and antibiotics were used more intelligently to slow mutation of the bacteria, said Alain Poirier, national director of Quebec Public Health.

"We've done a lot of work since that outbreak," he said, noting that the number of cases is estimated to have dropped by half.

Dr. Zoutman said that he would like to see a $100-million research fund set up to study how hospital infection is transmitted, and how better to prevent it.

"We react once there has been a problem," Dr. Zoutman said. "I think we need to move well beyond reacting."

This month, 10 hospitals will participate in a pilot project of the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, in which they will be asked to report either MRSA or C. difficile rates. The plan will be further refined, then rolled out to health-care institutions applying for accreditation this January.

The results will not be reported publicly, unless the institutions choose to release the information.

Online source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070310.CDIFFICILE10/TPStory/National

[oasdihf]

Ontario hospitals see increase in deadly bacteria
Wed Mar 7, 2007

TORONTO (Reuters) - A deadly bacteria that attacks the intestines of mainly elderly patients is showing up with more frequency at a handful of Ontario hospitals, Joshua Tepper, the Canadian province's acting chief medical officer of health, said on Tuesday.

"In a few hospitals in Ontario, we are seeing more cases at this time than we might expect," Tepper told Reuters. "At any given point in time we expect hospitals to have a few cases, especially in larger hospitals, but there a few hospitals that are seeing above average levels."

Clostridium difficile or C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and intestinal conditions such as colitis. It is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients and is also one of the most common infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Rates at which patients have become infected have increased at some Ontario facilities, prompting concern that a deadlier strain has developed.

Tepper said it is too early to determine whether this is the case.

"There is evidence from studies done that the bacteria is changing and that is something that we are monitoring quite closely," he said.

Trillium Health Center in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, said that as of Monday night, 21 patients currently in the hospital had tested positive for C. difficile.

Another 43 patients at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario - about 100 kilometers north of Toronto - have been diagnosed with the bacteria so far this year.

The Barrie hospital has confirmed that at least one of those patients has died, afflicted with the same deadly strain of C. difficile that has killed more than 2,000 in the province of Quebec since 2003.

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2007-03-07T132842Z_0...

[oasdihf]

Killer bug sows panic in Israel
March 09 2007 at 01:46AM

Jerusalem - A killer bacteria resistant to antibiotics is sowing panic across Israel as it sweeps through hospitals, leaving scores dead and afflicting hundreds more.

Five hundred people in more than 10 hospitals have been struck down with the lethal Klebsiella bacteria strain in the past six months, with 30 percent of cases ending in death, senior health ministry official Yair Amikam told AFP.

Battling to cope, the health ministry is demanding an extra half a billion dollars to improve hospital infrastructure and for hundreds of new beds, as doctors raise alarm bells of a wildfire epidemic failing decisive action.

"There were 500 cases in the last six months, 30 percent of which end in fatality. All of them are old patients suffering from many kinds of illness and this is not the only reason that caused death," Amikam said.

News of the bug first broke this week and has since dominated the print and electronic media in the Jewish state.

"Bacteria Epidemic Feared", warned one headline. "Resistance Bacteria Rampant - and Health Ministry Has No Data", screamed another.

The health ministry initially kept the outbreak secret to avoid mass panic in a country prized for its world-class health care, but doctors are warning that the problem could become endemic if effective action is not taken.

"We will have an endemic problem rather than a problem that can still be contained," said Dr Itamar Shalit, who chairs Israel's Infectious Diseases Association, when asked about the potential fallout.

Calling for a major budget increase to overcome structural inadequacies in Israeli hospitals, he said around 100 people have died so far with several dozen patients currently carrying Klebsiella.

"There is a lot that needs to be done," he said, demanding a "significant" investment for hospitals to hire adequate specialists and nurses, buy necessary equipment and build additional space to house such patients.

He said it took experts eight to 10 months to realise they faced a new antibiotic-resistant bug, in part because the health ministry failed to act on recommendations to create a centralised alert system as in the West.

"People need to understand this is not the first or the last bug that is resistant, but it is the first that we have no usual antibiotics to treat it with," Shalit told AFP.

"Maybe we are at the beginning of a national outbreak of this bacteria," warned Dr Abraham Borer, director of prevention of infection at the Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, highlighting an "urgent need" for more investment.

Health ministry officials have been meeting hospital directors and experts to find a strategy to cope with the bacteria primarily affecting the elderly, those in intensive care and those already taking multiple drugs.

The liberal Haaretz newspaper published a stinging editorial, slamming the health ministry for inaction, for failing to alert the public and for failing to set up a steering committee to investigate the phenomenon.

Bereft relatives are already threatening hospitals with law suits, convinced that loved ones died because of hospital negligence. Tel Aviv-based lawyer Tal Nevo said 10 families were already asking him to sue six hospitals.

"We're going to check it very carefully and if we have sufficient evidence we are going to file a law suit. We are probably going to approach the ministry of health to start an investigation," he said.

But health ministry official Amikam defended his government department.

"Bear in mind that we wanted to be sure we knew what we are talking about. There was no intention to hide any kind of information that would cause only a panic," he said.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=nw20070308223924497C911603

[oasdihf]

Roadshow for investors in Toronto

Date : Thursday March 22, 2007
Time : 12 :00
The Suites at 1 King West
1, King W. St.
Toronto, Ontario
(King Gallery on 3rd Floor)

Speaker: Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO

For question please contact:
Christine Stewart: [e-mail]
Barbara Komorowski : [e-mail]
Tel. : [phone]
Fax : [phone]

[oasdihf]

Bacterial outbreak shuts Toronto neonatal unit
Outbreak forces Women's College Hospital to close its doors to vulnerable infants
UNNATI GANDHI

TORONTO -- A serious bacterial infection has shut down Toronto's largest neonatal intensive care unit, and it could last weeks, putting severe strain on a system that is already at maximum capacity.

Women's College Hospital, where the region's most vulnerable premature babies are cared for, this week stopped accepting high-risk pregnancy transfers, as well as preemies born at other hospitals, after an outbreak of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus could not be contained.

"[The closing] means that mothers will have to be transferred to other cities, out of province, even out of country to Buffalo," Mary Vearncombe, director of infection control at Women's College and at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, told The Globe and Mail yesterday, referring to a period in 2005 when several Ontario mothers-to-be were sent to the United States because of an overall shortage of neonatal intensive-care space.

"The neonatal intensive-care system is at capacity all the time. So when you take an element of the system out, then somebody is really going to feel the pinch."

Dr. Vearncombe said the outbreak was partly caused by extremely crowded conditions -- the perfect breeding ground for the spread of infection -- at the neonatal intensive care unit.

The unit's 41 beds and surrounding medical equipment in the decades-old building are each squeezed into just 30 square feet of space, which is less than a third of the recommended minimum of 100 square feet.

NICU staff at Women's College noticed the first case of staph infection in early January. It spread, and a number of preventive measures -- including separating infected and healthy babies and having NICU staff wear gloves and gowns at all times -- were put into place.

That didn't work, and an emergency closing was the only option.

"You always have to balance off which is the bigger risk," Dr. Vearncombe said. "Is it a bigger risk to admit babies to the unit when the outbreak is going on? Or is it a bigger risk to say we're not going to admit babies to the unit knowing that mothers are going to be sent somewhere else?"

The 41 babies remain at the hospital, but hospital staff have cleared the NICU rooms to clean them out.

Premature babies are extremely vulnerable to infections that are often harmless to full-term babies; Staphylococcus aureus is a spherical bacterium commonly found on the skin or in the nose of a healthy person.

Many infants at Women's College, as small as 500 grams, have developed abscesses, pneumonia, eye infections and blood infections. No deaths have been reported, and Dr. Vearncombe would say only that "several" babies have infections.

Ontario Ministry of Health spokesman A. G. Klei said the ministry was aware of the closing of the NICU, and that all babies in the unit would be tested.

Asked about increasing unit capacity, he said: "We're working very closely with partners in the health-care system to bring about a more effective and innovative health-care system. We've already worked with several hospitals to approve projects that expand neonatal intensive care across Ontario."

One of those projects involved Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women's College Hospital, which had been amalgamated in the 1990s. As far back as the late 1990s, Ontario's hospital-restructuring commission recommended Women's College move its perinatal facility to the Sunnybrook Hospital site and expand. The recommendation was never adopted.

Then, in 2005, Sunnybrook announced that it would dramatically increase the size of its emergency department as part of a reorganization in which Women's College, a cramped facility built decades ago, returned to being a separate entity.

During that announcement, details were revealed about plans to include a state-of-the-art, expanded birthing and neo-natal intensive care unit at Sunnybrook, handling 4,250 births a year. It currently handles about 280.

Dr. Vearncombe says the opening will be "a lot later than" the target date of 2008.

"I started working for Women's College in 1984 and they were talking about getting a new NICU then. Still waiting," she said. "Crowding makes infection control a lot more difficult, so we are all looking forward to that new unit."

Michael Marrin, a neonatologist at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, said the Women's College closing will likely send other neonatal units across the province scrambling.

"It's going to put pressure on both the obstetric and neonatal units," he said, adding that the Hamilton facility will try to accommodate as many mothers and babies as it can. "But the fact of the matter is, our absolute first priority has to be the safety of the patients we already have under our care."

The closing of 41 beds at Women's College is significant because the province has only about 200 "Level 3" beds, which are for premature babies who need the most monitoring and care.

"Most neonatal intensive care units would plan to run at about an 80-per-cent occupancy averaged over the year."

He said the province needs to be pushed to open more "Level 2" beds because babies who don't necessarily need intensive care are occupying the spots in NICUs because they have nowhere else to go.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/03/09/infection-neonatal-070309.html

[oasdihf]

I came across Biophage a few years ago reading an article in some Business magazine. The write-up focused primarily on the possibilities of its PDS biosensor. Since then, BUG has been awarded its first sales contracts for Beryllium sensitivity testing, MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens, and most recently for their LISTEX(TM) product with a cheese producer in the US to control cheese contamination.

With a different food contamination in the headlines on a weekly basis it's difficult to understand why a company with so much potential only has a $5 million market cap. I don't know how this story will end but I'm willing to stick around to see how it unfolds.

[oasdihf]

With the financing now closed hopefully the worst is behind us:

Biophage Pharma announces the closing of a second tranche of the private placement
Wednesday February 28, 3:38 pm ET

MONTREAL, Feb. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. ("Biophage") announces today that it has closed a second tranche of the private placement of units of Biophage announced by way of press release on December 22, 2006, for gross proceeds of $386,350.05. Each unit is composed of one common share of the capital of Biophage and one non-transferable warrant. Each such warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the capital of Biophage for a price of $0.17, at any time for a period of two years after the date of its grant. The common shares to be issued at a price of $0.13 per share and the common shares underlying the warrants have a four-month resale restriction. This second tranche raises the total amount of the current private placement to $525,910.05. Boom Capital Inc. has received, as compensation for this second tranche, a cash commission of $3,800 and 44,705 common share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $ 0.17 per share until February 28, 2009.

The Corporation is planning to apply the net proceeds from the private placement towards accelerating the development and commercialization of its compact PDS96(R) Biosensor and to strengthen in-house sales and marketing task force in order to substantially increase the company's income and build value in the three different divisions: Biosensor division, Phage therapy division and ImmunoTox Labs.

The private placement is subject to the necessary approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange and the securities authorities

About Biophage Pharma inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS96(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net)


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.

For further information

[krisryden]

oasdihf - How did you learn about BioPhage? I learned about them from SI board and did my DD before jumping on board. Do you have any further insight into the company?

Thanks, KR

[krisryden]

Biophage Pharma increases private placement
02-12-2007

Montreal, February 12, 2007 - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma Inc. ("Biophage") is pleased to announce that it has increased to $600,000 the maximum amount of its $500,000 private placement of units announced on December 22, 2006 (the "Private Placement"). Biophage also extends to February 28, 2007 the $0.13 per unit price protection period. Each unit is composed of one common share of the share capital of Biophage and one non‑transferable warrant. Each such warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the capital of Biophage for a price of $0.17, at any time for a period of two years after the date of its grant. The common shares to be issued at a price of $0.13 per share and the common shares underlying the warrants have a four-month resale restriction.

Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage commented: "We believe that the road shows we are presently doing and the good news that we have announced have increased demands for this private placement. The attendance in Quebec City and in Montreal was impressive and interest high. In addition to the revenues generated by our service division ImmunoTox Labs, we started the sales of Listex to cheese producers and our biosensor is in the last stages of its development, which lead to the fact that our three divisions should be generating income in 2007 and attract more and more attention. We are very proud to continue these developments and increase the value of our company for our shareholders."

The private placement is subject to the necessary approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange and the securities authorities.

[oasdihf]

If their Biosensor receives approval you won't be disappointed:

Biophage announces the capability of its PDS(R) Biosensor to rapidly detect Harmful properties of metals on living cells

08:41 EST Tuesday, November 28, 2006

EPA decision opens new markets in environmental risk assessment

MONTREAL, Nov. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX.V: BUG) today announced that its PDS(R) Biosensor has the ability to rapidly detect the harmful properties of metals on living cells (cytotoxicity).

A recent article published in the Washington Post (Nov 23, 2006) announced that the EPA will begin regulating a large class of Nanoproducts sold as germ-killing mainly because they may pose unanticipated environmental risks.

"Measuring cytotoxic effects enables quantitative measurements of such risks. We believe our PDS(R) Biosensor responds to this need and will help EPA and manufacturers assess the potential harmful effects of certain classes of metals on living cells of human, animal or plant origin," stated Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma Inc.

"Conventional materials, such as carbon, silver or gold, exhibit unconventional properties when manufactured on a nanoscale. This is largely because the nanoparticles have relatively large surface areas for their small mass, and the exposed atoms have increased chemical reactivity that could induce potential adverse effects measurable by cytotoxicity test." Dr. Mandeville explained."

"We have demonstrated that our Biosensor can rapidly detect (in less than 1h) the harmful effects of certain toxic metals like mercury and cadmium on mammalian cells. These solid proof-of-concept results open completely new markets for our biosensors in environmental risk assessment," stated Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville, adding "The new PDS(R) Biosensor is being extensively tested and patents are to be filed in the first quarter of 2007. This new diagnostic tool is a paradigm leap in the diagnostic domain and the Company expects it to contribute significant revenues and income," concluded Dr. Mandeville.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a growth company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, and more particularly a portable PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including a large number of metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens. (www.biophagepharma.com ; www.immunotoxlabs.com ).


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

[krisryden]

I took a starter position with this latest PR....things are heating up.

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma prepares to meet increased demand for Beryllium and MELISA(R) testing - Dr. Michel Heyne will become director of the Beryllium Reference Lab to help expedite its INSPQ accreditation
Tuesday January 30, 9:00 am ET

MONTREAL, Jan. 30 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG) - Biophage Pharma Inc. (Biophage) today announced the hiring of Dr. Michel Heyne as director of its Beryllium Reference Lab to meet the increasing demand for Beryllium and MELISA(R) testing. With his vast experience in laboratory testing this eminent haematologist will help expedite the accreditation process of Biophage's Beryllium laboratory by the Quebec National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ).

Dr. Heyne brings more than 38 years experience in the hematology field to Biophage. He was an active member of the medical team at Hôpital Hotel-Dieu in St-Jerome for more than 35 years where he acted as director of the Department of Internal Medicine, head of Hemato-oncology services, and head of the Laboratories Department. He was also the founder of the Hematology and Hemato-oncology laboratories at Hotel-Dieu. For more than 26 years, Dr Heyne was also a consultant in Hemato-oncology for the Hospital Centers of Argenteuil and Laurentien.

Dr. Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage commented, "We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Heyne to our Immunotox Labs team. Dr. Heyne brings to Biophage a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of hematology and laboratory testing as well as an in-depth knowledge of the field and its basic unmet needs. His extensive network of contacts in North America and Europe will help our team identify new markets for Beryllium and MELISA(R) testing."

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens. (www.biophagepharma.net ; www.immunotoxlabs.net).

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.

[oasdihf]

Biophage signs first client for phage therapy
Tuesday January 23, 11:01 am ET

LISTEX(TM) offers a biological solution to control Listeria contaminations in cheese products
MONTREAL, Jan. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX.V: BUG) is pleased to report that it has concluded the sales of LISTEX(TM) to an important cheese producer in the US. Securing this sale marks the beginning of a business relationship with our first client who intends to develop and use phage therapy as a biological solution to potential Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination in cheese.

On December 4, 2006, Biophage signed an MOU with EBI Food Safety (The Hague, Netherlands) for the sales and distribution of LISTEX(TM) in North America. LISTEX(TM) is the first bacteriophage product to receive FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) recognition for the control of Listeria contaminations in cheese.

Listeria is generally regarded as one of the most dangerous food pathogens. Some properties of Listeria, such as tolerance to low pH values (up to 4.4) low temperatures (3 degree C) and high salt content allow its survival even under adverse environmental conditions, such as those met during usual dairy production and refrigeration. The presence of Listeria in cheese can also be linked to other factors, such as unsatisfactory pasteurization treatments, contamination after heat treatment or in ripening rooms, resistance to sanitizing agents, or the ability to multiply during storage at temperatures considered safe for refrigeration. It's therefore important to achieve a satisfactory level of control and prevention of contamination in dairy plants and LISTEX(TM) is allowing this by being safely added to cheese and milk products.

Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO said "We are pleased to announce Biophage's first commercial order for LISTEX(TM) to a major cheese producer. Our objective is to contribute directly to the introduction of this powerful new product to the North American market using a specialized team that will help our clients quickly achieve their objectives. Since the FDA's approval of applying bacteriophages to food products, we have fielded numerous inquiries from producers who understand the commercial potential of this innovative biological solution for the control of bacterial contamination. Biophage is building a sales force in order to meet the increasing commercial interest in this exciting product".

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net).

About EBI Food Safety

EBI Food Safety is a privately held Life Sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of natural anti-bacterial products, based on its bacteriophage technology. The company's scientific network includes collaborations with universities and research centers in The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy and now Canada. The company is viewed as product leader in the field of applied bacteriophage technology for food products and was recently honored with the 2006 Technology Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan. www.ebifoodsafety.com.


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.

[oasdihf]

Biophage also launched a new website this month:

http://www.biophagepharma.net

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma Announces The Launch Of Its Roadshows

11:47 EST Monday, January 08, 2007

MONTREAL, Jan. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX-V: BUG) Biophage Pharma Inc. ("Biophage") is pleased to announce its 2007 roadshow plans for several major cities in Canada and the United States, beginning in Quebec City on January 9th. The purpose of the event is to increase the visibility of the Corporation by focusing on accomplishments of the past few months at both the corporate level and in product development.

Renmark Financial Communications Inc., with an ongoing mandate to provide comprehensive investor and financial communications services, will coordinate the events, focusing their assets and extensive expertise in networking and investor relations to market Biophage during the roadshows.

Biophage also announces that it's President and CEO is featured in an online interview at Wallst.net, a Financial Media Group Inc. company (wallst.net) and for this week only at the Wall Street Reporter Magazine, international section (www.wallstreetreporter.com).

"As a result of many recent developments at Biophage, it is an opportune time to increase our exposure on the North American markets. While the roadshow events are aimed at meeting our existing retail brokers and portfolio managers, Biophage would like to extend an open invitation to all other brokers and members of the financial community who may be interested in the Biophage business model. In order to know the exact dates and times and to register, please consult our web site (special events). Also, should any company or individual want to know more about our products, services and our Research and Technology developments, they are welcomed to visit our new websites (www.biophagepharma.com and www.immunotoxlabs.com or to contact us directly." commented Dr. Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma.


About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The Therapeutic division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environmental fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of new diagnostic products, more particularly a compact PDS96(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens. (www.biophagepharma.net ; www.immunotoxlabs.com).


About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.


Founded in 1999, Renmark Financial Communications Inc. is a full service investor relations firm, specializing in corporate financial communications and investor relations to small, mid and large cap companies listed on all US and Canadian exchanges in North America. Established as one of the largest retail Investor Relations firms in Canada, Renmark offers a wide range of integrated investor and financial communication services. An expert team of 30 experienced and strong professionals, with a combined experience of over 100 years, is dedicated to provide efficient and comprehensive investor relations program. The constant strive for excellence has given, and will continue to give Renmark the edge needed to become North America's leading investor relations and corporate communications firm. www.renmarkfinancial.com

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

or accuracy of this release.

%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD., President and Chief Executive Officer, [phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart, [e-mail]; Sylvain Laberge, [e-mail]; [phone], Fax : [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma initiates performance and validation testing of PDS96(R) Biosensor

10:59 EST Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Important milestone reached in the development of new biosensor

MONTREAL, Dec. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG) - Biophage Pharma Inc. reported today that it has reached an important milestone in the development of a compact PDS96(R) Biosensor. The company is now conducting extensive in-house performance testing and validation of the alpha prototype, and expects to file US and PCT patents in the first quarter of 2007.

The Biosensor's compact size, performance and functionality promise to be a quantum leap over existing technologies. Moreover, it uses specially designed sample arrays in a standard 96 well plate configuration, making it amenable to high throughput automation. Data acquisition and analysis are handled with user-friendly software.

"The increased capacity, functions and lower selling price of the PDS96(R) Biosensor will result in substantial savings of time, money and human resources for our customers. These features give us an important edge over our competitors and responds to true concerns of consumers in the health care industry," commented Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma Inc.

"Our market assessment has confirmed that a compact biosensor that can screen large number of samples for bacterial sterility and toxicity testing has important applications for cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, as well as in blood banks, laboratories, hospitals, and even teaching centers," added Dr. Mandeville.

"Biophage is in a better position than it has ever been. We believe we have a unique device that offers superior technology, throughput and cost advantages over our competitors who are many times our size," concluded Dr. Mandeville.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The Therapeutic division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environmental fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of new diagnostic products, more particularly a compact PDS96(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

(www.biophagepharma.net ; www.immunotoxlabs.com).


<<
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
>>
%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD. President and Chief Executive Officer, [phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart: [e-mail]: Ricardo Vallejos: [e-mail], [phone], Fax : [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma receives important orders from Canadian and U.S. clinics for MELISA(R) testing

09:33 EST Friday, November 03, 2006

Test opens new frontiers in the diagnosis of sensitization to more than

200 different allergens from a single blood sample


MONTREAL, Nov. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG) - Biophage Pharma is very pleased to announce today that it is receiving substantial orders from Quebec and California clinics for MELISA(R) testing, a novel and advanced diagnostic tool for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergenic substances.

"We are very excited to sign our first two clinics in Quebec and California and welcome this increase in income. Demand for MELISA(R) is steadily increasing as we are now receiving orders directly form patients and doctors" commented Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage Pharma Inc. "This potentially high revenue generator for Biophage will help us consolidate our product development activities, focus on the commercialization of our new portable PDS(R) biosensor and expand the phage therapy program for the management of bacteria contaminations in order to increase food safety and quality." added Dr. Mandeville.


About the MELISA(R) technology


The MELISA(R) technology is protected by a patent and European, Canadian and US Trademark. In March 2006, Biophage signed an exclusive license agreement (Press release, March 1, 2006) and proceeded to transfer and validate this technology during the summer (press release August 9, 2006). The MELISA(R) test is the first and only scientifically validated metal allergy blood test developed for the simultaneous screening of a large number of antigens and metals including nickel, mercury, lead, silver, gold, zirconium, titanium, manganese, and beryllium. Metal allergies are frequently observed in patients suffering from various disorders including Psoriasis, Eczema, autoimmune diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Thyroiditis, Sjogren's disease) and gastrointestinal diseases. Patients diagnosed with symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often suffer from metal allergy induced by dental amalgams. Mucosal changes around a dental filling such as oral lichen may be due to an allergic reaction to its metal content. Replacement fillings in metal-sensitive patients usually leads to a reduction or even disappearance of symptoms. Moreover, in metal sensitive patients, body implants (hip joints, knee prosthesis, screws, pacemakers, silicone breast implants, cochlear implants) may induce side effects such as pain, dermatitis, cutaneous swelling, impaired wound healing, and bone infections.

MELISA(R) testing before any of these procedures could greatly reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions as physicians will be able to identify alternative solutions for allergic patients prior to any invasive procedures.


About Biophage Pharma Inc.


Biophage Pharma is a growth company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, and more particularly a portable PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens. (www.biophagepharma.com; www.immunotoxlabs.com ).


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy

or accuracy of this release.

%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Biophage Pharma Inc.: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD., President and Chief Executive Officer, Biophage Pharma Inc., [phone], [e-mail]; Immunotox Labs, Division of Biophage Inc: Miguel Retamal, Director, [phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Investor Relations, Christine Stewart, [e-mail]; Ricardo Vallejos, [e-mail], [phone], Fax: [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com

[oasdihf]

Biophage Pharma signs its first client in the nuclear energy industry for Beryllium sensitization testing

11:29 EST Monday, March 13, 2006

Zircatec Precision Industries, a subsidiary of the world's largest uranium producer

MONTREAL, March 13 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG). Biophage Pharma today announced that it has received a significant order for Beryllium testing of workers at Zircatec Precision Industries. Zircatec is a leading supplier of CANDU fuel, nuclear products and technology to the global nuclear industry. Cameco controls 100% of Zircatec which operates facilities at Port Hope and Cobourg, Ontario. "Biophage is a premier provider of beryllium hypersensitivity testing in Canada and is also actively working on expanding this service to the United States. Each day more companies are becoming aware of the health issues surrounding exposure of beryllium-sensitized workers. This is reflected by the increasing number of tests we are performing each year" said Dr. Rosemonde Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Biophage is also pleased to confirm the signature of the exclusive licensing agreement announced by press release on March 1, 2006, as well as an agreement with MELISA Diagnostics Ltd. to issue, as partial consideration for the exclusive license, an aggregate of 200,000 warrants in favor of Professor Vera Stejskal and MELISA Diagnostics Ltd. Each such warrant entitles its holder to purchase one common share of the corporation at an exercise price of $0.11 per share until February 24, 2008. The agreement also provides for the payment of royalties on net sales of the metal allergy blood test. The issuance of warrants is subject to regulatory approval. "The exclusive licensing agreement signed with MELISA Diagnostics Ltd and Prof Vera Stejskal will allow us to extend the panel of tests in occupational medicine by offering to our clients the possibility to identify allergies to more than 20 different metals and a large number of allergens from a single blood sample." concluded Dr Mandeville.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma Inc. is a high potential Canadian company focused on the development of novel phage-based Biosensors for live pathogen diagnostics. Founded in 1995, Biophage has now completed the first prototype development of its proprietary PDS(R) Biosensor and is entering in the pre-commercialization stage. The unique feature of this product is its ability to detect not only the presence, but also the viability of pathogens. Recent advances have demonstrated that the PDS(R) Biosensor can be used to evaluate clinical sensitivity to antibiotics. This Biosensor has a wide range of potential applications in water safety, food and feed quality and safety, homeland security and in the medical field where protecting against even small number of bacteria infiltration is important (i.e., blood banks, stem cells and sperm banks). The company has also an important profit center that actually provides services in Immunology/Immunotoxicology, in Beryllium hypersensitivity testing and now allergy to more than 20 different metals and a large number of allergens. (www.biophagepharma.com)

About MELISA(R) Technology

The MELISA(R) technology is protected by a patent and European, Canadian and US trademarks. The MELISA(R) test was developed by Prof Vera Stejskal, former head of immunotoxicology division at ASTRA Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca), to screen for drug allergy in workers in pharmaceutical factories. Using a blood sample, MELISA(R) can detect and measure hypersensitivity to metals and many other substances. In Europe, it has been used for over 10 years, mainly by chronic disease specialists and dentists. This licensing is MELISA's biggest move into occupational screening markets and marks its Canadian debut (www.melisa.org).

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept any

responsibility for the accuracy of this release.

%SEDAR: 00014714EF

For further information: Biophage Pharma Inc: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD., President and Chief Executive Officer, Biophage Pharma Inc., [phone], [e-mail]; Carpe DM, Inc.: Stuart Fine, Investor Relations, [phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart, [e-mail]; Sylvain Laberge, [e-mail], [phone], Fax : [phone], www.renmarkfinancial.com; MELISA Diagnostics Ltd: Linda Stejskal, Communications director, London, United Kingdom, ([phone], [e-mail]

[Ubertino]

UMAC-CORE Marine Microalgae (Phytoplankton)

Interesting - life saving, even.

Talk about swamp water - how about sea water:

http://www.hedleys.ca/umac.htm
http://www.umac-core.com/

UMAC-CORE is powerful because our extraction process combines the benefits of phytonutrients with a natural and balanced composition of sea minerals. Phytonutrients are natural plant-based chemicals that promote proper metabolic functions. Many of them exhibit potentially promising effects in human physiology:

immune system enhancement

antioxidant protection from cancers and degenerative diseases

cholesterol modulation

anti-inflammatory effects on membranes

blood pressure control

cell wall improvement through increased permeability and flexibility

detoxification through metal chelation.

[Ubertino]

Eye on Health: Spray on Virus

Scientists believe there are viruses in the Chesapeake Bay that, when isolated from the water and sprayed on food, kill bacteria... making that food safer to eat. But a Baltimore biotech firm just got approval from the FDA to do just that. Scientists say these six viruses... called bacteriophages... are already all over our food...... the environment... even in our stomachs... millions of them. It's nature's way of killing bacteria... in this case.. deadly listeria.

The firm says it sold the technology to a major food manufacturer...whose name is being kept secret for now. Lunch meats and other ready-to-eat meat sprayed with the viruses should hit store shelves within six months. But can they convince consumers it's safe... or even necessary? Foods sprayed with the viruses will have "bacteriophage preparation" listed with other ingredients on the label. The firm is working on a similar product to kill salmonella and e-coli and hopes one day to put the bacteria-eating viruses in household cleaners... and even medicines for sick patients who've become resistant to antibiotics.

Play video

http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/index.cfm?sid=3124

[Ubertino]

Biophage signs manufacturing agreement and completes a private equity financing

Thursday August 31, 7:59 am ET

Company intends not to enter into additional financings until stronger share price

MONTREAL, Aug. 31 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX.V: BUG) Biophage Pharma Inc. ("Biophage") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Indus Instruments Houston, Texas ("Indus"), and International Science Consulting, LLC West Haven, Connecticut, ("ISC"), for the development and manufacturing of a new generation of PDS(R) biosensors. Biophage also announces that it has closed a private placement of 5,965,861 units of Biophage, announced by way of press release on July 12, 2006 for gross proceeds of $483,590. Each unit is composed of one common share and one non-transferable warrant; and each warrant entitles its holder to one common share for a price of $0.12 per share until August 30, 2008. The common shares, the warrants and the underlying common shares have a four-month resale restriction. ISC has received, as compensation for its services in the context of the private placement, 394,658 common share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.12 per share until August 30, 2008.

Dr Mandeville, President and CEO of Biophage commented, "We are very excited with the development and design of the new PDS(R) biosensor. This is the culmination of years of research. We anticipate entering the market with these products over the coming months". Dr Mandeville continued, "We have now closed the rounds of financing previously announced. It is management's intention not to enter into any additional financings until Biophage's value is better understood and we have a stronger share price. We will now concentrate on increasing our sales and building value for our shareholders."

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of novel phage-based technologies for the detection and management of live pathogens. Founded in 1995, Biophage Pharma has well advanced phage therapy program for the management of bacterial infections and completed the development of its first prototype PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage. Biophage also operates a profit center (Immunotox Labs) that provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, in Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of allergy to more than 20 different metals and a very large number of allergens like penicillin and pollens. (http://www.biophagepharma.com ; http://www.immunotoxlabs.com ).


The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.

For further information

Biophage Pharma Inc: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, [phone], [e-mail]
ImmunotoxLabs: Division Biophage Inc, Miguel Retamal, Directeur, [phone], [e-mail]
Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart: [e-mail]
Christina Lalli: [e-mail]
[phone], Fax: [phone], http://www.renmarkfinancial.com

Source: BIOPHAGE PHARMA, INC.

[Ubertino]

Biophage accelerates its phage therapy programs in response to a groundbreaking announcement by the US FDA

Tuesday August 22, 8:21 am ET

FDA approves phages to combat deadly microbes in meat

MONTREAL, Aug. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - (TSX-V: BUG - News) - Biophage Pharma Inc. is pleased to announce that it has accelerated its phage therapy program in response to a groundbreaking announcement made last Friday by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the safety of phages in the treatment of meat. "A mixture of phages can be safely sprayed on meat to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year" federal health officials said on Friday in granting the first ever approval of viruses as a food additive.

Over the past 6 years, Biophage has built an extensive library of lytic phages against a large number of these deadly human bacterial pathogens. These "natural" phages have been isolated from environmental samples (e.g. water treatment plants, farms in the US and Canada) and a number of these phages have been fully characterized. In its phage therapy program Biophage performed several in vivo studies in experimental animal models (i.e. piglets and chickens) and generated very encouraging results. Biophage also obtained Health Canada (VDD) approval to perform clinical studies in farm animals.

"The announcement made on Friday by the FDA opens the door to phage therapy and sends a very positive message to companies working in this field. Biophage is well positioned to penetrate these high potential markets having worked with government officials for many years generating hard data which demonstrate the safety and reproducibility of phage therapies in the management of bacterial infections in animals," said Dr. Mandeville, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Biophage has seen a renewed interest in phage therapy in the last 6 months and the FDA ruling now confirms the safety of using phages to treat food products. We anticipate wider acceptance of phages as a therapy for humans and animals with a resulting exponential growth in these markets in the next few years." added Dr. Mandeville.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.

Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of novel phage-based technologies for the detection and management of live pathogens. Founded in 1995, Biophage Pharma has well advanced phage therapy program for the management of bacterial infections and completed the development of its first prototype PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage. Biophage also operates a profit center (Immunotox Labs) that provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, in Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of allergy to more than 20 different metals and a very large number of allergens like penicillin and pollens. (http://www.biophagepharma.com ; http://www.immunotoxlabs.com ).

For further information

Biophage Pharma Inc: Rosemonde Mandeville, M.B., Ch.B., PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Biophage Pharma Inc., [phone], [e-mail]
ImmunotoxLabs: Division of Biophage Inc, Miguel Retamal, Director, [phone], [e-mail]
Renmark Financial Communications Inc.: Christine Stewart, [e-mail]
Christina Lalli, [e-mail]
[phone], Fax : [phone], http://www.renmarkfinancial.com

Source: BIOPHAGE PHARMA, INC.

Ref:
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=22736312

[Ubertino]

Platform Technology (from the website)
At the interface of biological science & nanotechnology, these biosensors are powerful tools aimed at providing selective identification of living microorganisms in biological fluids for biomedical diagnosis of infection and in environmental samples (e.g., air and water) for detection of pathogens contamination. Combining the exquisite specificity of biological recognition probes (phages) and the excellent sensitivity of impedance analysis and nanotechnology, these biosensors are capable of detecting living microorganisms pathogens to provide unambiguous identification and accurate quantification.