AEGiS-PRn: Biosyn, Inc. Announces $10 Million Grant from National Institutes of Health

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Biosyn, Inc. Announces $10 Million Grant from National Institutes of Health

PRNewswire - November 4, 2002

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Biosyn, Inc. announced today that the company, along with five collaborating partners, has been awarded a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the development of a potent HIV-inhibiting compound, Cyanovirin-N, as a microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS. The collaborating institutions include The University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, TherImmune Research Corporation, Southern Research Institute, and St. George's Hospital Medical School, U.K. The funding will be used to advance Cyanovirin- N (CV-N) through pre-clinical development and, upon filing of an Investigational New Drug application with the Food & Drug Administration, initiation of clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of CV-N in preventing HIV transmission. The grant covers a period of five years.

CV-N is a novel protein isolated from the cyanobacterium, Nostoc ellipsosporum (blue-green algae), and was discovered as part of an NIH effort to identify and develop new classes of natural compounds that inhibit the infectivity or cytopathic effects of HIV. Studies conducted on CV-N to date have demonstrated the compound's activity against HIV and potential use as a microbicide. Positive outcomes of this early research include a primate model in which CV-N was shown to prevent vaginal and rectal transmission of simian- human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), an HIV-like virus that infects monkeys.

"As an HIV-fusion inhibitor, Cyanovirin-N has remarkably potent HIV activity and is an integral compound within our microbicide portfolio. CV-N's potential as a microbicide to prevent HIV transmission has been clearly established through both in vitro study of its activity against HIV and animal prevention models," stated Dr. Richard Bax, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Biosyn. "The significant support the NIH is providing to us also makes evident the promise of this product. We are extremely enthusiastic about having the ability to progress CV-N forward along with the other compounds in our strong portfolio of microbicides."

Biosyn is developing a number of microbicides for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including chlamydia, genital herpes and papilloma virus. Each of these compounds is in a different stage of development, with the company's leading microbicide candidate, Savvy(R) (1.0% C31G vaginal gel) entering Phase III clinical trials early in 2003 for contraception, HIV prevention, and prevention of other STDs.

Biosyn's receipt of the $10 million grant from the NIH not only ensures the swift progression of CV-N into clinical trials, it is also validation of the company's strategy to develop multiple microbicide candidates in parallel, with the goal of bringing to market one or more microbicides as expeditiously as possible over the next several years. With over 5.3 million people having acquired HIV in the year 2001 alone, there is an urgent need for a microbicide to curb the onslaught of this pandemic as well as provide women with a means of protecting themselves from STDs.

About Biosyn

Biosyn is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel drugs for infectious disease and reproductive health. The Company's robust pipeline is anchored by a lead candidate entering Phase III trials for STD prevention with excellent clinical safety and efficacy data. Additionally, Biosyn's product portfolio offers significant competitive advantages in areas where there is a critical need for new or alternative therapies. In addition to its microbicide portfolio, the company has product development ongoing in several areas including oral complications of immuno-suppression, skin and soft tissue infections, and ophthalmic infections.

SOURCE Biosyn, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.biosyn-inc.com

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