Is America Readily Prepared to Deal with a Potential Global Panemic, the Avian Flu? Leading Scientist and Physician Available for Commentary

In response the urgent call by the Center for Disease Control, the biotech community is gearing up against the possible threat of avian influenza.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 9, 2005 -- In a recent article in the New York Times, members of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization characterized in Asia certain conditions described as "the beginnings of the avian flu pandemic."

In response the urgent call by the Center for Disease Control, Philadelphia-based Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. announced further studies in collaboration with U.S. government sponsored laboratories to determine the potential antiviral activity of Alferon N against avian influenza.

Previous peer reviewed experimental research conducted has shown that low doses of Alferon N, the only natural alpha IFN cocktail available in the U.S., added to the water and food supply of the bird population reduced death rate as well as produced healthier weight compared to birds that received placebo. Typically, birds in close quarters being raised as a poultry crop are exposed to various stressful conditions, which include outbreaks of viral infections and makes them more susceptible to disease. This well-controlled study demonstrated that Alferon N can both decrease the morbidity and death rates of birds living under these conditions as well as produce a larger bird when trace amounts of Alferon are added to the food supply.

Dr. William Carter, CEO of Hemispherx is available for commentary to discuss the following:

How can we prepare for a potential Avian Flu pandemic?"
Is Avian Flu a real threat to America?
How does this disease spread from poultry to humans?
How can Alferon N potentially work to stop the spread of the epidemic?
How does the production of healthy birds aid in the reduction of Avian Flu?
Has the biotechnology community responded quickly enough to the Center for Infectious Disease Researchs "Clarion call" for the world "to prepare for a potential global pandemic along the lines of the 1918-1919 flu that killed tens of millions of people?"

About Dr. William Carter
William A. Carter, M.D. joined Hemispherx in 1978 and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors since January, 1992, Chief Executive Officer since July, 1993 and President of the Company since April, 1995. Carter was a leading innovator in the development of human interferon for a variety of treatment indications, including various viral diseases and cancer. Dr. Carter received the first FDA approval to initiate clinical trials on a beta interferon product manufactured in the U.S. under his supervision. He received his M.D. degree from Duke University and underwent his post-doctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Carter is a Board certified physician and author of more than 200 scientific articles, including the editing of various textbooks on anti-viral and immune therapy.

About Alferon N
Alferon N® (Interferon alfa-n3, human leukocyte derived) is a highly purified, natural source, glycosylated, multispecies alpha interferon product, composed of eight forms of high purified alpha interferon. It is the only natural-source, multispecies alpha interferon currently sold in the U.S. for the treatment of refractory papilloma infections (HPV) and is also approved for sale by various regulatory agencies worldwide including Singapore and Hong Kong.

About Hemispherx
Hemispherx Biopharma, based in Philadelphia, is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of viral and immune-based chronic disorders. Its flagship products include Alferon N® and the experimental immunotherapeutics/antivirals Ampligen® and Oragens(TM). These novel proteins, approved for a category of STD infection, and experimental nucleic acids are being developed for globally important chronic viral diseases and disorders of the immune system including HPV, HIV, CFS and Hepatitis. Recently, clinical trials in co-infected patients (HIV and HCV) were announced in Spain. Its platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various chronic viral infections. Hemispherx has approximately 270 patents comprising its core intellectual property estate, a fully commercialized product (Alferon N®) and GMP certified manufacturing facilities for its novel pharma 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® and Oragens(TM)) 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. Only Clinical Studies under well-controlled conditions can establish efficacy and safety of any product. Clinical trials for other potential indications of the approved biologic Alferon® do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indication.

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