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PRESS RELEASES ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Announces Patent Granted for Eradicaide™ Technology to Diagnose, Prevent and Treat AIDS SAN DIEGO – February 3, 2004 – ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AVRX) announced today that its collaborators at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have been issued United States Patent number 6,656,471 entitled "HIV-specific T-cell induction," for a method to diagnose, prevent and treat AIDS. This method involves the use of HIV peptides and HLA-restricted T-cell responses in both the prediction of long-term non-progression of AIDS and prevention of AIDS. ADVENTRX has an exclusive worldwide license regarding this patent and other intellectual property for its EradicAide technology. The Company is developing EradicAide technology as a therapeutic vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Most patients infected with HIV-1 do not exhibit clinical manifestations of AIDS for six to 10 years following initial infection. However, some HIV-1 infected persons remain free of disease for 10 or more years, and are termed long-term non-progressors (LTNP). They exhibit lower viral loads and stable CD4 positive T-cell counts. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests cytotoxic T-cell lymphocytes (CTL) are important for induction and maintenance of the disease-free status of LTNP. EradicAide vaccine is composed of a cocktail of synthetic peptides based upon highly conserved regions from HIV virus envelope proteins, gp 120 and gp 41. Specific peptides in the cocktail are designed to stimulate a CTL response in a manner intended to relate to how LTNPs control HIV infection. The EradicAide peptides are presented to the immune system via human leukocyte antigens, called HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C to stimulate CTL clearance of HIV-infected cells. Since it is known that HIV uses Nef protein to down-regulate HLA-A and HLA-B in some individuals, EradicAide vaccine contains peptides that are also presented through HLA-C, thereby circumventing this control mechanism of HIV. In studies of LTNP at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, HLA-C presentation was identified as an important component of CTL control of HIV infection in in vitro studies, and specific claims for this discovery are included in the new patent. When EradicAide vaccine was administered in a series of vaccinations to non-human primates, the treatment was able to suppress viral load to undetectable levels for as long as three years after viral challenge. "We are extremely pleased with the issuance of this patent because it clearly establishes that our goal to use EradicAide vaccine to enable long-term non-progression in HIV-infected patients has been recognized as both novel and credible by the United States Patent and Trademark Office" said Nicholas Jon Virca, President and CEO of ADVENTRX. "Based upon proliferative and cytotoxic T-cell responses during in vitro testing with HIV-infected human cells and successful in vivo results in a non-human primate model, we are implementing plans to move EradicAide vaccine into human testing as an HIV therapeutic vaccine later this year." According to Dr. David L. Parker of Fulbright and Jaworski, LLP, "This patent provides a very broad platform technology for the ADVENTRX EradicAide vaccine program, in that it covers the use of one or more of the EradicAide peptides in the treatment of HIV infections, without regard to the particular formulation, mode of administration or mode of action. Additionally, specific claims of the patent are directed to treatment using the EradicAide peptides in various combinations or formulations, either directly, or in association with a variety of adjuvant systems and carrier molecules to achieve CTL induction to control progression to AIDS." About ADVENTRX ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical research and development company whose business strategy is to commercialize leading edge medical research through licensing agreements with prominent universities and research institutions. The Company focuses its energy in cancer and antiviral research to launch products that either extend the usefulness of current therapies or replace marginal therapies with new approaches to treatment. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are made based on management's current expectations and beliefs. Actual results may vary from those currently anticipated based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, the timing and success of clinical trials, the validity of research results, and the receipt of necessary approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Contact: Investor Contact: Jill Meleski, The Ruth Group 646-536-7032 Media Contact: Cynthia Isaac, Ph.D., The Ruth Group 646-536-7028 |
