Ausam Biotechnologies Receives Contract Grant from National Institutes of Health; Grant Will Speed Development of a Topical Drug to Protect from HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2004 AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in the business of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic products, announced today that the company has been awarded a contract grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. ) Inter-Institute Program for the Development of AIDS-Related Therapeutics. AusAm will use the support to accelerate the development of DES10(TM), the company's proprietary topical microbicide topical microbicide Infectious disease A chemical that can be applied to the surface of the body to kill microorganisms , as a potentially safe and effective topical prophylactic ointment against HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and other sexually transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Infections that are acquired and transmitted by sexual contact. Although virtually any infection may be transmitted during intimate contact, the term sexually transmitted disease is restricted to conditions that are largely . In previous NIH sponsored studies, DES10 was shown to be an effective inhibitor of HIV and herpes. Through this grant, AusAm Biotechnologies will collaborate with the NIH to determine the pre-clinical spectrum of antiviral activity for DES10, a member of a new class of drugs known as "attachment inhibitors" that prevent viruses such as HIV from infecting cells that make up the body's immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. . "We look forward to building on our three-year-old collaboration with the NIH to move DES10 toward clinical trials," said James R. McCullough, Chief Executive Officer of AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc. "The development of DES10 as a safe, effective and inexpensive topical microbicide could give a powerful new tool in the fight to limit the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases." Microbicides are products such as gels and ointments that can be applied directly to the vagina or rectum as a means to block infectious disease Infectious disease A pathological condition spread among biological species. Infectious diseases, although varied in their effects, are always associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and aberrant proteins known as prions. . Unlike latex condoms, which are the most frequently used barrier method for HIV prevention, microbicides would be primarily controlled by women. Scientists are currently testing many substances to see whether they help protect against HIV and other STDs, but no microbicide for HIV is currently available on the market. About AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc. AusAm is a biotechnology research and development company commercializing both diagnostic and therapeutic products to identify and treat major diseases. AusAm's recently FDA-cleared diagnostic for the detection of intact albumin in urine is the first direct test to measure a potential indicator of the beginning stages of kidney disease Kidney Disease Definition Kidney disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the kidney. Kidney disease is also called renal disease. . AusAm's diagnostic is currently offered by several reference laboratories and hospitals in the United States Lists of hospitals for each U.S. state:
Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to management's beliefs about the business of AusAm in the future. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the ability of AusAm to successfully implement the strategy of AusAm. AusAm undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unexpected results. |
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