PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 28, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (AMEX:HEB) announced its selection as a presenting company at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Seventh Annual Bio Investor Forum on Oct. 30, 2008, in San Francisco, CA. Selections for the individual corporate presentation selections were made by BIO with help of outside industry consultants and an Advisory Committee.
The theme of the Hemispherx presentation, "Focus on Commercial Success," will highlight 4 features of its specialty pharma product platform. First, a status report on building the first treatment franchise in a major unmet disease market--Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)--which affects about 4 million Americans. The Interagency Federal Committee on CFS, composed of representatives of FDA, HHS, SSA, NIH, CDC, AHRQ (see CFS Advisory Committee.gov on the worldwide web), is expected to consider improved treatments and diagnostic approaches at its upcoming public meeting Oct. 28 and 29, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Second, a status report addressing the evolving mutations in pandemic bird flu viruses--which mutations may nullify the value of existing worldwide vaccine stockpiles--by introducing the first potentially cross-protective immune adjuvant against multiple virus strains. Third, a status report on building a novel immune treatment franchise, potentially applicable in both developed and developing nations with low-cost, non-invasive, technology utilizing potentially applicable in both developed and developing nations with Hemispherx's experimental sublingual and intranasal biotherapeutic immune adjuvants/antiviral products replacing more costly and potentially less-effective existing injectable products. Fourth, the company will propose a "value proposition" analysis which suggests a new macroeconomic (cost/benefit) framework in which these technology platforms, specifically the experimental treatment for CFS, can be considered.
About Hemispherx Biopharma
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is a specialty pharma 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(r) (FDA approved for a category of sexually transmitted diseases) and the experimental therapeutics, Ampligen(r) and Oragens. Ampligen(r) 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 90 issued patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection(r)). 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(r), 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(r) do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indications; similarly, the completion of the NDA filing process with Ampligen(r) does not imply that the product will ever be approved commercially.