U.S. Government Selects Biothera Compounds
for National Radiation Countermeasure Evaluation
for National Radiation Countermeasure Evaluation
EAGAN, MN
–
September 18, 2006
–
The National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, has
selected two Biothera drug candidates for research in a new program designed
to identify and facilitate the development of radiation and nuclear medical
countermeasures.
The NIAID's Radiation/Nuclear Countermeasures Product Development Program is
evaluating compounds to treat and protect the general U.S. population
against acute radiation exposure resulting from a nuclear terrorist attack
or accident. The program's objective is to bring candidates through the
entire drug development process culminating in an FDA-approved drug for
consideration for the national radiation countermeasure stockpile.
Radiation kills bone marrow stem cells needed to generate white blood cells,
red blood cells and platelets that fight infection, carry oxygen and prevent
bleeding. The loss of bone marrow stem cells may result in a
life-threatening condition known as myelosuppression.
Research demonstrates that Biothera's Imprime WGP™ and Imprime PGG™
accelerate regeneration of bone marrow stem cells, mitigating the extent of
myelosuppression and enhancing survival.
"There currently is no FDA-approved therapy to treat bone marrow damage for
the U.S. population in the event of a radiological attack or nuclear
accident," said Daniel Conners, Biothera founder and chairman. "Preliminary
studies with the Imprime compounds have demonstrated efficacy in radiation
models when administered orally or systemically."
The orally administered compound, Imprime WGP, has several advantages. Its
stability at room temperature and oral delivery make it easier to stockpile
and deploy to treat large population segments than therapies that require
special storage conditions and trained medical personnel for administration.
"Biothera's selection for this new government-sponsored program enables us
to significantly leverage our resources," said Richard Mueller, president
and chief executive officer of Biothera. "Industry analysts estimate that
bringing a new drug to market from discovery stage through final FDA
approval costs hundreds of millions of dollars."
Biothera's drug candidates are scheduled to be in the first group of
compounds tested under the NIAID program
About Biothera, the Immune Health Company
Biothera is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.
The company's primary focus is developing pharmaceuticals that engage the
immune system to fight cancer. In addition, compounds are also in
development to facilitate immune system recovery after damage from
chemotherapy or acute radiation exposure. Biothera also manufactures and
markets food-grade ingredients that support healthy immune function to the
nutritional supplement, functional food, cosmetic and animal nutrition
markets.
About the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is a
component of the National Institutes of Health. NIAID supports basic and
applied research to prevent, diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis,
malaria and illness from potential agents of bioterrorism. NIAID also
supports research on basic immunology, transplantation and immune-related
disorders, including autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergies.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – The Nation's Medical Research
Agency – includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency
for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs,
visit http://www.nih.gov.
Contact:
David Walsh
VP, Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biotherapharma.com
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, has
selected two Biothera drug candidates for research in a new program designed
to identify and facilitate the development of radiation and nuclear medical
countermeasures.
The NIAID's Radiation/Nuclear Countermeasures Product Development Program is
evaluating compounds to treat and protect the general U.S. population
against acute radiation exposure resulting from a nuclear terrorist attack
or accident. The program's objective is to bring candidates through the
entire drug development process culminating in an FDA-approved drug for
consideration for the national radiation countermeasure stockpile.
Radiation kills bone marrow stem cells needed to generate white blood cells,
red blood cells and platelets that fight infection, carry oxygen and prevent
bleeding. The loss of bone marrow stem cells may result in a
life-threatening condition known as myelosuppression.
Research demonstrates that Biothera's Imprime WGP™ and Imprime PGG™
accelerate regeneration of bone marrow stem cells, mitigating the extent of
myelosuppression and enhancing survival.
"There currently is no FDA-approved therapy to treat bone marrow damage for
the U.S. population in the event of a radiological attack or nuclear
accident," said Daniel Conners, Biothera founder and chairman. "Preliminary
studies with the Imprime compounds have demonstrated efficacy in radiation
models when administered orally or systemically."
The orally administered compound, Imprime WGP, has several advantages. Its
stability at room temperature and oral delivery make it easier to stockpile
and deploy to treat large population segments than therapies that require
special storage conditions and trained medical personnel for administration.
"Biothera's selection for this new government-sponsored program enables us
to significantly leverage our resources," said Richard Mueller, president
and chief executive officer of Biothera. "Industry analysts estimate that
bringing a new drug to market from discovery stage through final FDA
approval costs hundreds of millions of dollars."
Biothera's drug candidates are scheduled to be in the first group of
compounds tested under the NIAID program
About Biothera, the Immune Health Company
Biothera is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.
The company's primary focus is developing pharmaceuticals that engage the
immune system to fight cancer. In addition, compounds are also in
development to facilitate immune system recovery after damage from
chemotherapy or acute radiation exposure. Biothera also manufactures and
markets food-grade ingredients that support healthy immune function to the
nutritional supplement, functional food, cosmetic and animal nutrition
markets.
About the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is a
component of the National Institutes of Health. NIAID supports basic and
applied research to prevent, diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis,
malaria and illness from potential agents of bioterrorism. NIAID also
supports research on basic immunology, transplantation and immune-related
disorders, including autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergies.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – The Nation's Medical Research
Agency – includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency
for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs,
visit http://www.nih.gov.
Contact:
David Walsh
VP, Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biotherapharma.com