Enzo Biochem expands HIV development program; Initiates collaboration with St. Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital Center.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1996--Enzo Biochem Inc. (ASE:ENZ) announced today that it has expanded its HIV therapeutic product development effort with the initiation of a collaborative program with Dr. David Volsky, Director of the Molecular Virology Laboratory at St. Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital Center, a teaching hospital of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and one of the largest AIDS centers in the nation.

"The initiation of this collaborative effort is very exciting to us and represents the next phase in Enzo's program to develop specific DNA medicines based on our novel gene regulation and delivery technology," said Dr. Dean Engelhardt, Enzo's Senior Vice President of Research. "Because of the successes already achieved by Enzo scientists and collaborators in using this technology to inhibit viral replication in human cells, we are now moving towards the development of protocols to allow us to enter human clinical studies," continued Dr. Engelhardt.

The results of the first phase of Enzo's HIV preclinical therapeutic program that was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Cornell University Medical College will be presented at the XIth International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver, British Columbia next week.

Dr. Volsky and his laboratory will focus on the development of human clinical protocols aimed at a therapeutic treatment for HIV, in which cells are removed from the patient, altered ex vivo -- outside the body -- and reinfused into the patient. Dr. Volsky who is a Professor of Pathology at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons is an expert on the biology of the AIDS virus, especially its replication. His laboratory has been a major contributor to research on HIV-1 growth, gene delivery systems and the identification of new virus targets for AIDS therapies. "We are extremely confident that this approach will result in the achievement of resistance to HIV that is clinically significant and are very pleased at the chance to participate in such a program," said Dr. Volsky.

The approach for developing an AIDS therapeutic product combines Enzo's novel gene delivery system, GenSert(TM) with Enzo's gene regulation technology. Designed to prevent HIV from replicating inside cells, it is targeted to be the first commercial therapeutic product to emerge from Enzo's development efforts and to provide the medical community with a powerful new weapon in the fight against AIDS.

Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community.

CONTACT: Barry Weiner, 212/856-0876 or

Steve Anreder, 212/421-4020