CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Feb. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- U.S. BioDefense, Inc. (OTCBB:UBDE) CEO David Chin is pleased to announce today that the company will file a Letter of Intent for Grant Funding and follow on proposal in response to an RFA: 'Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research' with the National Institutes of Health. NIH components participating organizations include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
CEO David Chin stated, "The NIH intends to commit up to $4.5 million dollars in FY 2005 to fund three new Centers of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research. We are now in discussions with prominent Southern California Doctors, researchers, and educational collaborators at hospitals, universities, small and blue chip companies in order to study the feasibility of founding a Stem Cell Research Center for the rapid development of Stem Cell technology. We are aggressively seeking and hereby invite inquiries from new collaborative industry partners including stem cell biologists, researchers and clinicians with disease-specific expertise, physicians and surgeons skilled in novel modes of cell delivery, and investigators experienced in developing and assessing animal models of human diseases to create a new research team in California. We plan to have the qualified Letter of Intent submitted by the February 24th deadline to proceed with the NIH government grant due March 24th, 2005."
Final determination of the successful funding award is not guaranteed by the company and qualification for a National Institutes of Health 'Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research' Grant will be made by the NIH following review of the grant company's LOI followed by its proposal. A Letter of Intent will be provided to the NIH as required under grant guidelines outlining the functions and backgrounds of collaborative parties by February 24th to qualify for submitting the final grant proposal by the March 24th deadline.
About The NIH Center of Excellence program
The goal of this new NIH program is the translation of new findings in human stem cell biology to clinically relevant research for the ultimate purpose of developing new therapies for human disorders. Of particular interest are innovative collaborations in novel areas of stem cell research that could lead to new therapies, diagnostic products, or a key understanding and treatment of disease. If a grant is awarded, The U.S. BioDefense Center of Excellence must demonstrate to the NIH the success of proposed open source research engaging the full collaboration between groups of individuals contributing unique yet complementary expertise or resources. According to the NIH, the centers will undertake multi-disciplinary approaches, including preclinical projects that might lead toward clinical applications and clinical trials. In order to accomplish this goal, the centers will consist of component parts/laboratories located in different institutions, and function as "centers without walls." U.S. BioDefense is continuing to leverage its Stem Cell technology transfer and commercialization initiative through the manifestation of its Open Source Platform for rapid stem cell research and development facilitating the distributed collaboration of biotechnology and biodefense research. Recent application to The International Society for Stem Cell Research (visit Isscr.org) will expand networking with International experts, provide access to research and best practices, educational seminars, topical workshops and meetings, and participate in various forums and committees.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite applications for specialized Centers to accelerate application of the latest advances in human stem cell biology for the development of novel diagnostic or therapeutic uses, and of preclinical studies employing human stem cells in animal models of disease. These centers will bring together basic stem cell biologists, researchers and clinicians with disease-specific expertise, physicians and surgeons skilled in novel modes of cell delivery, and investigators experienced in developing and assessing animal models of human diseases to create new research teams, and to conduct hitherto-unexplored projects such as preclinical studies for cell-based therapy. This initiative targets critical gaps in research that are delaying the conversion of new discoveries to new therapies, and particularly encourages the formation of new, multidisciplinary teams involving scientists that may not have worked in the human stem cell field and those that incorporate the full spectrum of expertise and experience in translational medical research.
According the NIH, "We anticipate that such research will ultimately lead to innovative approaches for the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease, and accelerate the translation of basic scientific discoveries in the laboratory to new treatments for patients."
For potential collaborators please contact our business development office after reviewing grant details at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-05-005.html
About U.S. BioDefense, Inc.
U.S. BioDefense is a Department of Defense central contractor that researches, develops, and commercializes leading-edge biotechnology. U.S. BioDefense recently announced a new stem cell separation and insertion technology license agreement with a major University. It has filed 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'. U.S. BioDefense recently sponsored the Project T2 Technology Transfer Conference, the nation's leading showcase of new university technologies, being hosted at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. Other sponsors (http://www.projectt2.org/sponsors.htm) include Southern California Edison, Latham & Watkins, Morrison & Foerster, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Canadian Consulate General, and Genzyme. U.S. BioDefense, Inc. recently entered into a Commercial Evaluation License Agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The biotechnology is related to a method for universal inactivation of viruses, parasites and tumor cells. These inactivated agents can be used as vaccines against the diseases caused by such viruses, parasites and tumor cells. Hence, the immunogenic of the agent as a whole is maintained and can be safely used for vaccination without the threat of infection. U.S. BioDefense, Inc. intends to conduct laboratory experiments under this Agreement to evaluate the suitability for commercial development. Furthermore, U.S. BioDefense, Inc. has agreed to provide the facilities, personnel, and expertise to evaluate the commercial applications. The company recently published its white paper on Stem Cell technology transfer analyzing California University and industry participants intellectual property resources including ViaCell (Nasdaq:VIAC), Geron (Nasdaq:GERN), Aastrom Biosciences (Nasdaq:ASTM), and StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM).
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.