Dr. Dennis E. Hruby, Chief Science Officer of SIGA Technologies, to Present CDC Distinguished Lecture on Smallpox Antiviral Drug ST-246.NEW YORK New York, state, United StatesNew York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of -- SIGA SIGA Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority SIGA Simplified Improved Gaussian Approximation SIGA Special Interest Group in Andrology (ESHRE) SIGA Silizium, Galvanik Und Abformung SIGA Sunshine in Government Act of 1976 Technologies, Inc., a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight bio-warfare pathogens, announced today that its Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Dennis E. Hruby, is presenting a Distinguished Lecture at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation ) in Atlanta on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Dr. Hruby's presentation, entitled "Discovery and Development of a Smallpox Antiviral Drug," outlines the progression of SIGA's anti-orthopoxvirus drug, ST-246, from its discovery in the laboratory through SIGA's recent filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. ) in support of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA EUA Examination under anesthesia, see there ) application for the drug. Commenting on the CDC presentation, Dr. Hruby stated, "We look forward to having a platform such as this to provide an update on the progress we have made with our ST-246 antiviral. We have recently achieved several milestones that are of significant importance, including the submission of our application supporting an EUA, the completion of our multiple ascending dose human clinical trial and initiating the process of obtaining marketing authorization in Europe. The CDC has a very intimate understanding of the seriousness of the smallpox virus smallpox virus n. See variola virus. and the threat that it poses to global health safety. We think that this forum will provide those attending with a better understanding of how far we have come in the development of ST-246 and the drug's capabilities in the event of a smallpox virus release." Dr. Hruby will also meet with CDC colleagues to discuss a series of smallpox virus challenge studies in nonhuman primates designed to further define the window of protective efficacy of ST-246. In the past, ST-246 has demonstrated significant antiviral activity against both the monkeypox virus and smallpox virus in primate models of disease. Dr. Hruby specializes in virology virology, study of viruses and their role in disease. Many viruses, such as animal RNA viruses and viruses that infect bacteria, or bacteriophages, have become useful laboratory tools in genetic studies and in work on the cellular metabolic control of gene expression and microbial microbial pertaining to or emanating from a microbe. microbial digestion the breakdown of organic material, especially feedstuffs, by microbial organisms. pathogenesis research, and the use of viral and bacterial vectors to produce recombinant vaccines. He is a member of the American Society of Virology, the American Society for Microbiology The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is a scientific organization, based in the United States although with over 43,000 members throughout the world. It is the largest single life science professional organization and its members include those whose interests encompass basic and a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. The upcoming smallpox virus challenge studies are of special interest to the CDC and SIGA due to the successful effort by SIGA at CDC's request to help save the life of a 28-month toddler who had contracted a severe case of eczema vaccinatum eczema vac·ci·na·tum n. A form of generalized vaccinia supervening upon an existing atopic dermatitis and accompanied by a high fever, malaise, and enlargement of the lymph nodes. (CID Cid or Cid Campeador (sĭd, Span. thēth kämpāäthōr`) [Span.,=lord conqueror], d. 1099, Spanish soldier and national hero, whose real name was Rodrigo (or Ruy) Díaz de Vivar. , 2008:46), which had arisen as a complication from smallpox vaccine smallpox vaccine n. A vaccine containing vaccinia virus suspensions that is inoculated subcutaneously to immunize against smallpox. administration. The FDA's issuance of a compassionate emergency usage approval at CDC's request allowed the child, who was near death and on the ninth day of hospitalization, to receive ST-246. The child's prompt recovery suggests that the therapeutic window for ST-246 use may extend beyond the onset of disease symptoms. About SIGA Technologies, Inc. SIGA Technologies is applying viral and bacterial genomics and sophisticated computational modeling in the design and development of novel products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases, with an emphasis on products for biological warfare defense Noun 1. biological warfare defense - defense against biological warfare biological warfare defence, BW defence, BW defense defense, defensive measure, defence - (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they . SIGA believes that it is a leader in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight potential bio-warfare pathogens. SIGA has antiviral programs targeting smallpox and other Category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg). For more information about SIGA, please visit SIGA's Web site at http://www.siga.com/. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains or implies certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the efficacy of potential products, the timelines for bringing such products to market and the continued development and possible eventual approval of such products. Forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections, and are subject to uncertainties, many of which are beyond SIGA's control. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause such differences include the risks that (a) potential products that appear promising to SIGA or its collaborators cannot be shown to be efficacious or safe in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical trials, (b) SIGA or its collaborators will not obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to market these or other potential products, (c) SIGA may not be able to obtain anticipated funding for its development projects or other needed funding, (d) SIGA may not be able to secure funding from anticipated government contracts and grants, (e) SIGA may not be able to secure or enforce sufficient legal rights in its products, including sufficient patent protection for its products and (f) regulatory approval for SIGA's products may require further or additional testing that will delay or prevent approval. More detailed information about SIGA and risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, including the forward-looking statements in this press release, is set forth in SIGA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including SIGA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and in other documents that SIGA has filed with the Commission. SIGA urges investors and security holders to read those documents free of charge at the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Interested parties may also obtain those documents free of charge from SIGA. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and, except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, SIGA undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. |
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