Cytogenix (fka CYGX)

[Ragso]

Press Release Source: CytoGenix Inc.


CytoGenix Announces Research Agreement with University of Texas Health Science Center Houston for Pre-Clinical Testing of a Gene-Silencing Anti-Bacterial Agent Against Sepsis
Monday December 15, 9:45 am ET


HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2003--CytoGenix Inc. (OTCBB:CYGX - News) announced Monday that it has entered into an agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston Medical School for animal studies using the company's proprietary ssDNA technology against a gene that, when silenced, inhibits bacterial reproduction.
Dr. Jeffrey K. Actor, associate professor, department of pathology and laboratory medicine, will conduct these proof-of-concept studies to determine the effect of this technology on bacterial sepsis induced in mice.

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome resulting from bacterial or fungal infection of the blood that can occur after trauma or surgery. Cases of sepsis have risen dramatically in the last twenty years from 164,000 in 1979 to more than 750,000 in 2002; about 215,000 Americans die annually from severe sepsis. Traditional antibiotic therapy has become ineffective because the sepsis-causing pathogens have mutated and developed defenses against all but the most powerful and expensive treatments. Care of people with sepsis costs about $50,000 per case, resulting in an economic burden of nearly $17 billion a year.

"This can be a very significant development in the fight against infectious diseases," stated Dr. Actor. "Sepsis is a very complex condition that acts very quickly, especially against immune-compromised or otherwise weakened individuals. Any improvement in treatment options will be a very important medical development," adds Dr. Actor.

"We have chosen sepsis as the first application of our anti-bacterial because it is a life-threatening condition and a significant economic burden to society; the results of these early trials can lead to the development of a very important therapeutic product," states Dr. Malcolm Skolnick, CytoGenix chairman and CEO.

CytoGenix Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative products and services based on its proprietary DNA expression technology. CytoGenix has products in pre-clinical development, including anti-herpes, anti-psoriasis and anti-inflammatory topical creams. The company owns a US patent for its core DNA expression technology and has 40 international or US pending patent applications.

SAFE HARBOR: Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, risks associated with the acceptance of new products, competition, and other factors more fully detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information about CytoGenix and its technology is found on the Web site at www.cytogenix.com.



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Contact:
CytoGenix Inc., Houston
Juan Ferreira, 407-774-9949



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Source: CytoGenix Inc.