SciClone Awarded $300,000 Grant to Study New Immunomodulator for Tuberculosis
San Mateo, CA, Feb 23 PRNewswire - SciClone Pharmaceuticals (SCLN) announced today at the 12th Annual Cruttenden Roth Growth Stock Conference that it has been awarded a $300,000 grant to study SCV-07, the Company's new immunomodulator, as a potential treatment for tuberculosis (TB), the most common infectious disease in the world today. The grant, which was awarded by the US Civilian Research and Development Foundation's Next Steps to Market Program, will cover the costs of preclinical and early clinical development of SCV-07 in collaboration with researchers at Verta, Ltd., a biotechnology company located in St. Petersburg, Russia.
"We are honored to receive this highly competitive grant and appreciate the recognition of our expertise in development of immunotheraputics," said Donald R. Sellers, SciClone's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Leveraging our global position, we are now moving forward with SCV-07 for drug-resistant TB and as a new, potential oral immunomodulator, similar to ZADAXIN®, for cancer and viral hepatitis."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year, tuberculosis kills 2 to 3 million people, more than any other infectious disease and more than malaria and AIDS combined. Today, one third of the world's population is infected with TB. The WHO projects that this year more people will die of TB than in any other year in history. It is estimated that between now and 2020, nearly one billion people will be newly infected, 200 million people will get sick and 70 million will die from TB. Drug-resistant TB, which is more expensive, more difficult to treat and more likely to be fatal, has re-emerged as a worldwide threat of pandemic proportions.
SciClone Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company that acquires, develops and commercializes specialist-oriented drugs for treating chronic and life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. Press releases and corporate information from SciClone Pharmaceuticals are available on the Internet at sciclone.com or by calling the Company's Investor Relations Department at 800-724-2566. SciClone's common stock is listed on The Nasdaq National Market® under the symbol SCLN.
The information in this press release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including the ongoing and prospective development and commercialization of SCV-07 as a potential treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis and as a new, potential oral immunomodulator, similar to ZADAXIN, for cancer and viral hepatitis and future benefits to the Company, its shareholders, and patients from development and commercialization of SCV-07. Due to the nature of product development and the regulatory approval process, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those reflected in the Company's filings with the SEC.
SOURCE: SciClone Pharmaceuticals |
