US Patent Office Allows Inhibitex's Patent Covering Gene That Encodes Major Staphylococcal Immunotherapeutic Target.

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BW HealthWire)--July 26, 1999--

-

Inhibitex's Lead Product is Used to Prevent Antibiotic-Resistant

Infections

Inhibitex, Inc. today announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has allowed a patent covering a proprietary gene from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) that encodes for a protein that is responsible for mediating bacterial binding to host tissues.

Inhibitex has shown that antibodies directed against this protein can prevent bacterial attachment to tissue, thus preventing infection. S. aureus is the most frequently isolated bacterial pathogen in hospital acquired infections worldwide. Inhibitex licensed exclusive worldwide rights to the gene and protein as part of an agreement signed in April 1999 with BioResearch Ireland (BRI), the national agency commercializing biotechnology related research and expertise in Irish colleges and research institutes." The gene covered by Inhibitex's patent allowance forms the basis of the Company's lead product, an intravenous hyperimmune globulin targeted at the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infections.

S. aureus infections can range from localized infections of wounds to invasive, life-threatening infections including pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis and endocarditis. Moreover, S. aureus infections represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Timothy J. Foster, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Microbiology, leads the BRI research group at the Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College in Dublin. Prof. Foster stated, "Since virtually all strains of Staphylococcus aureus express this factor, it is an ideal target through which we may be able to develop a way to treat antibiotic-resistant infections."

"Inhibitex's lead product is based on selecting plasma donors with high titers of antibodies that recognize the specific protein encoded by this gene," commented Joseph Patti, Ph.D., Vice President, Preclinical Development, and Chief Scientific Officer. "We expect to file an IND for our lead product in this quarter. In addition to our lead program, we have already begun to develop a vaccine directed against the protein encoded by this proprietary gene, that may ultimately prevent infections caused by S. aureus."

"Staphylococcus aureus has already developed resistance to the last remaining, effective antibiotic we currently have to fight this bacterial infection," William Johnston, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe Inhibitex's approach, which employs novel, proprietary factors and antibodies as the basis for products aimed at antibiotic resistant infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, could lead to near-term alternatives to current therapies."

The focus of Inhibitex's collaboration with BRI is the discovery and characterization of cell surface adhesins from Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci. The novel adhesins will be used by Inhibitex to develop Inhibitex's pipeline of immunotherapeutics targeting the prevention and treatment of hospital acquired infections caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci. To-date, more than six U.S. patent applications have been filed covering novel compounds developed through the collaboration.

BRI was established in 1988 as a partnership between the Irish government and its universities to support Irish economic development by facilitating the commercialization of biotechnology-related research results and expertise in Irish colleges of Higher Education and research institutes. Since its inception it has made a significant contribution to establishing a receptive environment in Ireland for biotechnology enterprises and continues to develop the biotech facilities, services and technologies that provide a gateway for overseas investment into Irish biotechnology.

Inhibitex, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of products for the infectious disease market. The Company's core technology is designed to inhibit bacterial adherence to host tissues, the first step in the initiation of infection. The Company's research and development programs are leading to differentiated antibody-based products that will be used to prevent and treat infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Inhibitex's current patent portfolio includes 14 issued U.S. Patents and 12 U.S. Patent applications covering its global immunotherapeutic platform and MSCRAMM(TM)-based technologies.

To learn more about Inhibitex, Inc., or BioResearch Ireleand, visit their websites at www.inhibitex.com or www.biores-irl.ie.