BIOPHAGE PHARMA (fka BIPMF)

[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)


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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]