Alert! HEB NEWS!!
Stanford University Publishes New Data on Immuno-potential of Hemispherx's Ampligen(R)
May Enhance Bioactivity of Cancer Immunotherapies
globenewswire
Companies:
o Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
Press Release Source: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. On Thursday January 28, 2010, 1:36 pm
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex:HEB) (the “Company”), announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article providing study data on Ampligen® [rintatolimod; poly(I)·poly(C12,U)] , an experimental therapeutic, in the current issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Epub ahead of print Jan 15, 2010 vol 202). The report, whose lead author is Dr. Jonathan S. Berek, Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, and colleagues, further details results presented at the Pacific Coast Oncology Gynecology Society Meeting, La Jolla, California, on October 1, 2009. Entitled “Toll-like receptor-3 as a target to enhance bioactivity of cancer immunotherapy,” the article discusses the value of stimulating a periodic “danger signal” with a TLR3 agonist such as poly(I)·poly(C12,U) as part of immunotherapeutic cancer treatment regimens, and suggests such regimens may have broad potential application to boost the effects of many immunotherapies of cancer.
The authors concluded that “poly(I)·poly(C12,U) shows promise as a potential agent for selective enhancement of effect with currently available and future cancer immunotherapies.” The authors also provided the following experimental observations in this report: “Dendritic cells are matured and T-cell stimulation is enhanced in the presence of poly(I)·poly(C12,U) . In addition, poly(I)·poly(C12,U) induced the release of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines. Prostate-specific antigen-specific T-cell and antibody responses were enhanced significantly in a BALB/c prostate-specific antigen transgenic mouse model. Finally, rituximab [Rituxan®]-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against tumor targets was improved significantly by the addition of poly(I)·poly(C12,U) .”
According to the authors, “immunotherapy of cancer holds the promise of disease-specific intervention without the toxicity that is associated with traditional therapeutic modalities."
The reported study was supported by an Ovarian Cancer Research Fund COGI Grant, Advanced Immune Therapeutics, Hemispherx Biopharma, and grants from the National Institute of Health (Grants CA 33399, CA 34233), the Ruth Kirschstein Award (Grant 5 T32 AI07290, and the Ruth L. Kirschstein Award (Grant F32 DKO78416).
Ampligen® (poly(I)·poly(C12,U)), an experimental immunotherapeutic, is also being studied as an influenza vaccine enhancer (Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases) and as potential monotherapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
About Hemispherx Biopharma
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx’s flagship products include Alferon N Injection® (FDA approved for a category of sexually transmitted diseases) and the experimental therapeutics Ampligen® Oragens®, and Alferon LDO. Ampligen® and Oragens® represent experimental RNA nucleic acids being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx’s platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Hemispherx has in excess of 50 patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection®). The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net.
Information contained in this news release other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the strategies and operations of Hemispherx involve risk of competition, changing market conditions, change in laws and regulations affecting these industries and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any specifically referenced investigational drugs and associated technologies of the Company (including Ampligen®, Alferon® LDO and Oragens®) are experimental in nature and as such are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials with the referenced disorders. The forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Clinical trials for other potential indications of the approved biologic Alferon N Injection® do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indications.
Contact:
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
Dianne Will
518-398-6222
ir@hemispherx.net
