PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 29, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex:HEB) (the "Company" or "Hemispherx"), announced that the Company has requested an extension of time in which to resubmit data to its NDA for Ampligen®, an experimental therapeutic, to treat CFS. This request is made in view of Hemispherx actively continuing to evaluate new information concerning the potential viral etiology of CFS, as that information may profoundly affect the design, conduct, and interpretation of clinical trial(s) (including those already conducted), as well as any supportive laboratory studies responsive to the Complete Response Letter (CRL). For this reason, the Company has requested, under 21 C.F.R. 314.110(c)(1), an extension of up to 12 months of the time for response to the queries and issues raised in the CRL.
Two independent groups have provided substantial evidence of a novel retrovirus family in the blood of patients with CFS. The first research group with its lead author from the Whittemore Peterson Institute described an infectious retrovirus (XMRV) in 67% of CSF patients (Lombardi, et al. Science.2009;326:585-589). The second consisting of a consortium of scientists at the FDA (Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies and Division of Human Tissues), NIH, and Harvard University reported that 86% of individuals suffering from CFS have gene sequences in cellular elements of the blood closely related to XMRV (Lo, et al. PNAS. 2010 107:15874-15879). Hemispherx has recently made complementary observations on the preserved blood specimens from hundreds of subjects who participated in the Company's Phase III pivotal trial in CFS (termed "AMP-516"). A significant fraction of the study population has evidence of exposure to this novel retrovirus.
Although the role of XMRV in the pathogenesis of human disease is unknown, its prevalence in CFS suggests a contributory role. Since XMRV can infect both B and T lymphocytes, it is possible that the pathogenesis of XMRV may involve significant effects on immune responses with parallels to the human retroviral pathogens, HIV and HTLVI/II, as well as MLV in murine models. Hence, it is of great public health interest to provide an in-depth analysis of our sample inventory in collaboration with epidemiological and virological experts around the country.
The Company also filed with the FDA a Prospective Study Protocol Plan (titled "Analysis of XMRV Markers from the Serum Samples for All Evaluable Subjects of the Clinical Study AMP-516"), which formalizes the Company's ongoing analysis of potential interrelationships between XMRV, CFS symptomatology and potential therapeutic intervention with poly I: poly C12U (Ampligen®).
In conjunction with this ongoing analysis of the Company's AMP-516 study, which is an integral part of NDA 22-151, Hemispherx is also initiating a widened enrollment of the open label AMP 511 study to increase the number of observations relating to potential interrelationships of XMRV, CFS symptoms and poly I: poly C12U (Ampligen®).
Hemispherx has already presented its initial observations at the 1st International Workshop on XMRV held at NIH on September 7-8, 2010. These observations suggest a heightened therapeutic response to Ampligen® in CFS patients with a history of XMRV exposure. The Company believes continuing with this type of analysis would be helpful in responding to the CRL as well as in pursuing the mission to offer potential novel treatments to CFS sufferers.
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® (FDA approved for a category of sexually transmitted diseases) 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. Hemispherx's platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Hemispherx has an extensive number of patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection®). 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.
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, change 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. Any specifically referenced investigational drugs and associated technologies of the Company (including Ampligen® and Alferon® LDO) are experimental in nature and as such are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials with the referenced disorders. The forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. The planning, completion, results or submission of clinical trials do not imply that any study product will ever be approved commercially for the studied or other treatment indications.