ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc. Retains Battelle for Radiation and Infectious Disease Testing
18 January 2007 - 11:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ImmuneRegen
BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings,
Inc. (OTC:IRBO) (BULLETIN BOARD: IRBO) , today announced it has
retained Battelle, the world's largest independent research and
development organization, as an accredited testing facility. Based
in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle will perform laboratory services on
ImmuneRegen's behalf on its proprietary compound, Homspera(TM).
Battelle currently manages or co-manages five national laboratories
for the U.S. Department of Energy. ImmuneRegen plans to utilize
Battelle's services immediately to help them perform various
studies in support of their two Homspera-based products
Viprovex(TM) and Radilex(TM) and to explore additional
immunomodulatory properties (e.g., as an adjuvant) in various model
systems. These studies could support and expand upon ongoing
product development activities. "We are very happy to announce our
relationship with Battelle and are excited to have their expertise
and welcome their role in helping evaluate our compound as a
candidate for therapeutic, prophylactic and adjuvant use against
these Threats of the 21st Century -- acute radiation sickness and
infectious diseases such as avian influenza, seasonal influenza and
anthrax," said ImmuneRegen's CEO Michael Wilhelm. ImmuneRegen's
newly hired Senior Director of Product Development and Regulatory
Affairs Hal Siegel, Ph.D. added, "Battelle's facilities and
demonstrated expertise are a perfect match for our ongoing studies
in radiation protection, influenza and anthrax. Their relationships
with the National Laboratories and their substantial in-house
capabilities provide us with a single contact point for managing
our expanding research on the immunomodulatory effects of Homspera
in a number of small animal and large animal model systems against
different immune challenges and will facilitate the transition into
safety studies and non-human primate models as ImmuneRegen moves
toward FDA filings later this year." "Battelle looks forward to the
opportunity to work with ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc. on its
exciting new drug candidate," said Michael J. Brooker, Battelle's
Vice President. "As drug development becomes more and more
challenging, Battelle is constantly assessing new ways to intermix
our capabilities into programs that produce the best science
possible. The combination of scientists from ImmuneRegen, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and
Battelle is unique and will provide the opportunity to create new
models to evaluate treatments for both radiation poisoning and
infectious disease." Along with maintaining independent laboratory
and management facilities worldwide, including world-class
toxicology laboratories in Columbus, Ohio and Richland, Washington,
Battelle is responsible for managing a number of National
Laboratories, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
in Richland, Washington, which is co-located with their private
facilities for inhalation studies and radiobiology, as well as
significant intellectual resources in these and other specific
areas of interest to ImmuneRegen. About Radilex and Viprovex
Radilex is the trade name used in referring to formulations of
Homspera for potential indications for treatment of exposure to
ionizing radiation. Viprovex is the trade name used in referring to
formulations of Homspera for potential indications for treatment of
viral and bacterial infections. Homspera is a generic name used by
the Company to describe the synthetic peptide Sar9, Met
(O2)11-Substance P. Sar9, Met (O2)11-Substance P is an analog of
the naturally occurring human neuropeptide Substance P, which can
be found throughout the body, including in the airways of humans
and many other species. All of the Company's research and
development efforts are early, pre-clinical stage and Homspera, as
Viprovex and Radilex, has only undergone exploratory studies to
evaluate its biological activity in small animals. About
ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc. IR BioSciences Holdings Inc., through
its wholly owned subsidiary ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., is a
development stage biotechnology company focused on the research and
development of Homspera(TM) and its derivatives Radilex(TM) and
Viprovex(TM), which are under study as candidate therapeutic
countermeasures for multiple homeland security bioterrorism
threats. Homspera is derived from Substance P, a naturally
occurring peptide immunomodulator. For more information, please
visit the company's website at http://www.immuneregen.com/. About
Battelle Battelle is the world's largest independent research and
development organization, with 20,000 employees in more than 120
locations worldwide, including five national laboratories Battelle
manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle conducts $3.7 billion in
R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management,
and technology commercialization. Battelle provides innovative
solutions to some of the world's most important problems including
global climate change, sustainable energy technologies, high
performance materials, next generation healthcare diagnostics and
therapeutics, and advanced security solutions for people,
infrastructure, and the nation. Battelle has a long history of
developing successful commercial products in collaboration with its
clients, ranging from products to fight diabetes, cancer and heart
disease to the development of the office copier machine (Xerox). As
a non-profit charitable trust with an eye toward the future,
Battelle actively supports and promotes science and math education.
Statements about the Company's future expectations, including
statements about the potential for the Company's drug candidates,
science and technology, and all other statements in this press
release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as
that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking
statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These
future events may not occur as and when expected, if at all, and,
together with the Company's business, are subject to various risks
and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ
materially from expected results as a result of a number of
factors, including the fact that preliminary results involved only
a small number of test mice, the subsequent investigations were
limited in scope, the uncertainties inherent in research and
development collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical trials and
product development programs, (including, but not limited to the
fact that future results or research and development efforts may
prove less encouraging than current results or cause side effects
not observed in current pre-clinical trials) the evaluation of
potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures and
monies available for further studies, capital market conditions,
and others set forth in the Company's periodic report on Form
10-QSB for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and on Form
10-KSB for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are no guarantees
that any of the Company's proposed products will prove to be
commercially successful. The Company undertakes no duty to update
forward-looking statements. MEDIA CONTACT: W. Jason Grimley
Spelling Communications 310-477-9500 INVESTOR CONTACT: Josh
Reynolds CEOcast, Inc. 212-732-4300 DATASOURCE: ImmuneRegen
BioSciences, Inc. CONTACT: Media, W. Jason Grimley of Spelling
Communications, +1-310-477-9500, , for ImmuneRegen BioSciences,
Inc.; or Investors, Josh Reynolds of CEOcast, Inc.,
+1-212-732-4300, , for ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc. Web site:
http://www.immuneregen.com/
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