PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE MKT:HEB) (the "Company" or "Hemispherx"), has retained Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) to serve as its global government relations team in an effort to help find additional pathways for testing Hemispherx's flagship experimental anti-viral Ampligen® and approved anti-viral (HPV) Alferon® N against the devastating Ebola virus. Hemispherx currently is testing its experimental immunomodulator Ampligen® for potential efficacy as a prophylactic and therapeutic against the Ebola virus, (http://www.hemispherx.net/content/investor/default.asp?goto=796 and http://www.hemispherx.net/content/investor/default.asp?goto=797). Squire Patton Boggs will work with foreign officials in Africa, Europe and the United States, to pursue opportunities to provide Ampligen® and Alferon® to populations suffering from the Ebola crisis.
Mr. Thomas Equels, Executive Vice Chairman of Hemispherx, stated, "We are pleased to establish a strategic relationship with SPB, one of the world's finest governmental, international relations, biopharma licensing and corporate M&A law firms. We welcome SPB to the Hemispherx team effort to bring our experimental drug Ampligen® and FDA approved drug Alferon® N online as potential therapeutics for Ebola and other lethal viruses for which no effective therapy exists. This strategic alliance will dramatically enhance our future efforts to try to save lives and alleviate human suffering resulting from these lethal worldwide threats."
About Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs is one of the world's largest law firms, with over 1,500 lawyers at 44 offices in 21 countries. The firm is recognized as a global leader in public policy, with the largest such practice in Washington DC. Squire Patton Boggs has represented a wide array of the world's leading corporations in addressing critical public policy issues in the United States and elsewhere.
About Hemispherx Biopharma
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx's flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutics Ampligen® and Alferon® LDO. Ampligen® is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hemispherx's platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Because both Ampligen® and Alferon® LDO are experimental in nature, they are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials. Hemispherx has patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection®), approved for sale in the U.S. and Argentina. The Company's Alferon® N approval in Argentina includes the use of Alferon N Injection® (under the brand name "Naturaferon") for use in any patients who fail, or become intolerant to recombinant interferon, including patients with chronic active hepatitis C infection. The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net.
Disclosure Notice
Information contained in this news release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the strategies and operations of Hemispherx involve risk of competition, changing market conditions, changes in laws and regulations affecting these industries and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final results of these efforts and/or any other activities could vary materially from Hemispherx's expectations. In vitro experiments are not necessarily predictive of clinical outcome and no representations are made that any products described in this release will be ultimately determined safe and effective in the prevention and/or treatment of the Ebola virus. Moreover, it will take time, testing and substantial funds to obtain approval of any such product and there are no assurances that a commercial approval for treatment of the Ebola virus can be obtained. The engagement of SPB does not assure success in obtaining Emergency Treatment INDs for Ebola or any commercial approval of either Ampligen or Alferon N as approved treatments for Ebola.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "potential," "potentially," "possible," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Hemispherx that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Hemispherx's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include those set forth in the Disclosure Notice, above, as well as the risks described in Hemispherx's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Hemispherx undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.