Immune Network Announces Collaboration With Leading AIDS
03:28 EST
Researcher Dr. Brian Conway At The University Of British
Columbia
NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCN NEWSWIRE
FOR: IMMUNE NETWORK LTD.
CDNX SYMBOL: IMM
OTC Bulletin Board SYMBOL: IMMKF
JANUARY 21, 2002
Immune Network Announces Collaboration With Leading AIDS
Researcher Dr. Brian Conway At The University Of British Columbia
VANCOUVER, CANADA--Immune Network Ltd. (OTCBB: IMMKF) announced today that
it has signed a research agreement with Dr. Brian Conway, MDCM, FRCPC, of
the University of British Columbia. This agreement will formalize the
collaboration with the University, enhancing the development of the
company's novel approaches to the treatment of chronic infections, such as
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
A primary purpose of this collaboration is to learn more about 1F7 as a
potential treatment for HIV and HCV. The 1F7 molecule is an Anti-Idiotypic
Immunomodulatory Monoclonal Antibody ("AIMA"). Although research regarding
AIMA technology has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals for
over a decade, its potential in the treatment of chronic and/or
drug-resistant viral infections is only now being explored. This
collaboration will also lead to the development of a research program to
demonstrate the mechanism of action of 1F7 and to optimize the production
of the antibody in preparation for future clinical trials.
The collaboration will also provide support for research on the hNM01
monoclonal antibody, which had already begun phase I trials in the United
States as a therapeutic vaccine against HIV. It is hoped that such trials
could be re-initiated in this calendar year. Finally, the addition of other
products to the portfolio will be considered, confirming Immune Network's
commitment to the field of antiviral therapy.
Dr. Brian Conway is a leading infectious disease scientist and clinician.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, he combines a large tertiary care clinical
practice in HIV with an ongoing University-based academic research program
in this field. He has authored and conducted a number of clinical trials,
with an emphasis on the development of models of care for intravenous drug
users. He is the National Principal Clinical Investigator for Canadian HIV
Trials Network Study 124 (CTN 124), an innovative approach to patients with
acute HIV infection. He also holds a grant from the American National
Institutes of Health (NIH) for related work in this field. Dr. Conway has
published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is on the
editorial board of both AIDS and the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndromes. He is a member of the executive of the Canadian Association for
HIV Research.
"It is widely held that the next step forward in anti-HIV therapy will come
from the field of immune intervention," said Dr. Conway, "Current
antiretroviral medications will not lead to a cure for AIDS, and novel
drugs that act against different targets in the viral life cycle are at
least a few years away. Immune intervention, such as with drug candidates
including 1F7 and hNM01, represents a novel and highly productive approach
to the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS."
Dr. Allen Bain, President and CEO of Immune Network, said, "I am very happy
to formalize a significant collaborative relationship with Dr. Conway and
the University of British Columbia. We expect Dr. Conway will play a
pivotal role in the guidance of our antibody projects. His combined
scientific and clinical competence will allow Immune Network to set and
achieve new milestones for these projects in 2002 and onwards."
The mission of Immune Network, "Biotech's Merchant Developer", is to
acquire undervalued projects, to add value through R&D, and to divest prior
to late stage product development through out-licensing or new company
creation activities.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Allen Bain, Ph.D., CEO
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:
This news release contains forward looking statements that are not
historical facts and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or
implied herein. These risks are described in detail in the company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Immune Network Ltd.
Investor Relations
(604) 222-5541 or (Toll Free) 1-877-644-5541 ext. 466
(604) 222-5542 (FAX)
Email info@immunenetwork.com
Internet immunenetwork.com
INDUSTRY: MTC
SUBJECT: PRT
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