CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Jan. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- U.S. BioDefense (OTCBB:UBDF) is pleased to announce that it has met today's deadline to file its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant proposal Number C051-117-0060 with the Department of Defense Chemical Biological Defense Agency in response to SBIR (dodsbir.net) Topic number CBD05-117 'Stem Cell Technology And Autologous Bioengineered Skin For The Treatment of Cutaneous Vesicant Injury'. The company has now set the deadline of February 1st for publishing its white paper "Transplanting Stem Cell Technology To California" analyzing California University and corporate IP resources including industry participants Geron (Nasdaq:GERN), Aastrom Biosciences (Nasdaq:ASTM), and StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM).
David Chin, CEO stated, "The company's technical objective is to grow large bioengineered skin grafts from embryonic stem cells. The successful result will enable restoration of epidermal and dermal compartments and preservation of epidermal stem cells for complete healing and long time restoration of skin wounds-particularly wounds resulting from vesicant agent induced cutaneous burns."
It is the objective of U.S. BioDefense to develop a product that will enable medical personnel to react quickly and efficiently in the face of biological warfare in the midst of the battlefield, abroad and within our national borders. To achieve this, U.S. BioDefense, Inc., proposes a collaboration of resources from doctors, universities, hospitals, Fortune 500's and government agencies to create "Bioengineered Skin" based on embryonic stem cell technology.
Mustard gas has been used intermittently as a weapon of war since the Germans first used it on the battlefields of the First World War. In this era of terror warfare, there is every reason to fear that mustard gas may be used against Americans in battlefield situations and perhaps against civilian populations during terrorist attacks. It would be prudent, therefore, to develop effective ways to treat vesicant agent induced cutaneous burn injuries now so treatment will be available when/if the time comes when large numbers of people need that treatment.
Mustard gas is a vesicant agent that can cause serious and painful cutaneous burn injuries. Recovery from these injuries using current treatment methods often is not complete. Mustard gas exposure can cause skin sloughing to the point where the epidermis is completely absent and coagulation necrosis of the dermis may occur. Even if injuries do not originally seem serious, individuals exposed to 300 mg/min/m3 of mustard vapor or 10 mg. of liquid mustard may develop viscules that result in scarring along with areas of hypopigmentation and/or hyperpigmentation.
According to a report entitled Cutaneous Reactions to Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare, written by Scott D. Bennion, M.D. (Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army; Dermatology Service, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045) and Kathy David-Bajar, M.D., (Major, Medical Corps, U.S. Army; Dermatology Service, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045):
"The threat of chemical warfare today is real and medical officers must be prepared to treat chemical casualties if the need arises. In the past, this area has been neglected; however, the possibility that U.S. military forces could sustain a substantial number of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) casualties in future conflicts is very high. Therefore, it is incumbent on us, as physicians, to ensure that we are capable of rendering the best care possible. In preparation for cutaneous lesions found in NBC casualties, medical personnel should understand some fundamental principles that have been noted in this chapter: Basic supportive measures for NBC casualties are based on the same medical principles, such as wound and burn care, that are already contained in the present literature and known to most physicians..." and that "Future wars involving NBC undoubtedly will be very different from those since World War I. However, if physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel are prepared and cognizant of the threat, the impact of an enemy NBC offensive on the combat effectiveness of U.S. forces will be minimized."
About U.S. BioDefense, Inc.
U.S. BioDefense is a Department of Defense central contractor (CAGE Code 3PCV0) that researches, develops, and commercializes leading-edge biotechnology. U.S. BioDefense, Inc. recently announced its stem cell technology transfer initiative and also entered into a Commercial Evaluation License Agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). U.S. BioDefense proudly sponsored the Project T2 Technology Transfer Conference, the nation's leading showcase of new university technologies. Other sponsors (http://www.projectt2.org/sponsors.htm) include Southern California Edison, Latham & Watkins, Morrison & Foerster, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Canadian Consulate General, and Genzyme. NIH's bioterrorism budgets have jumped from $53 million in 2001 to $1.7 Billion in 2005.
Safe Harbor Statement Forward-Looking Statements
Included in this release are certain "forward-looking" statements, involving risks and uncertainties, which are covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the U.S. BioDefense's financial performance. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. In addition, actual future results may differ materially from those anticipated, depending on a variety of factors, including continued maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products, continued product innovation, the success of enhancements to the U.S. BioDefense's brand image, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer spending, including uncertainties relating to global political conditions, such as terrorism. Information with respect to important factors that should be considered is contained in the U.S. BioDefense's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The U.S. BioDefense does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.