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To: diddlysquatz who wrote (12011)	5/20/2003 8:32:10 AM
From: xcr600	Respond to of 48462

Press Release Source: SIGA Technologies, Inc. SIGA and PLEXUS Announce Patent Filed For SARS Rapid Antigen Identification and Validation Method Tuesday May 20, 4:45 am ET NEW YORK & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2003--SIGA Technologies, Inc. SIGA Technologies, Inc. and Plexus Vaccine Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGA and FRANKFURT: SGW 919 473) announced today that Plexus Vaccine Inc. has filed a patent in Denmark, covering a new proprietary method of rapidly identifying and validating antigens, and the results obtained by analyzing the genetic variants of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) agent. Last week, SIGA announced that it had signed a definitive agreement with Plexus to acquire substantially all of the assets of Plexus, including the capital stock of Plexus Denmark APS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plexus Vaccine Inc. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is anticipated to close in the second quarter of this year; however, no assurance can be given as to when or if this acquisition will be consummated. The filing of this patent is the successful outcome of a collaboration between the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the University of Copenhagen, in a project coordinated by Ole Lund and Morten Nielsen at DTU. After the consummation of the acquisition, SIGA intends to use this information together with its novel delivery systems to attempt to develop rationally designed vaccines against the coronavirus that is believed to be the causative agent of SARS. The experimental work on the design of this SARS vaccine is currently underway in Denmark. Research teams headed by Soeren Brunak (DTU) and Soeren Buus (University of Copenhagen) jointly developed proprietary computational and experimental methods that incorporate knowledge of various aspects of the human immune system response, to predict and confirm which antigens will be effective for a range of human population variants, particularly for organisms with a high mutation rate. The method (previously used to identify novel HIV antigens) is exclusively licensed to Plexus Vaccine Inc by the inventors. The newly patented method is an extension of that work, and also incorporates new computational methods, new understandings of molecular immunology, and data on the genetically constant regions from a growing number of genomic sequences of the mutating coronavirus. SIGA and Plexus will be taking on the significant challenge of using Plexus' rapid rational vaccine design and delivery capabilities in anticipation that these novel technologies will help develop an effective response to the serious human health and economic problems associated with SARS. About SIGA Technologies, Inc. SIGA Technologies (www.siga.com) is applying bacterial genomics in the design and development of novel products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases, with an emphasis on products for biological warfare defense. Upon the consummation of the recent agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of Plexus, SIGA will be able to broaden its biowarfare portfolio, and to build its capability for extremely rapid design and delivery of synthetic vaccines for dangerous new pathogens. SIGA's product development programs emphasize the increasingly serious problem of drug resistant bacteria and emerging pathogens. SIGA's vaccine and drug platforms are based on its pioneering research into the structure, function and processing of bacterial surface proteins. SIGA is leveraging these platforms through multiple strategic partners, including Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories (the pharmaceutical division of American Home Products) and the National Institutes of Health. About Plexus Vaccine Inc. Plexus employs powerful proprietary tools of computational protein structural biology combined with genomic bioinformatics analysis and the principles of rational drug design to create vaccines that induce specific mechanistic interventions in critical protein functions. For the first time, epitope-specific vaccines that generate neutralizing antibodies can be designed and synthesized from deduction and mimicry of the 3D structural features of epitopes, applying sophisticated methods of structure-based drug design. The work is exploiting broadly protective epitopes revealed from our comparative structural analysis of vast numbers of genetic variants (polymorphisms) of pathogens. The Company applies proprietary advanced bioinformatics analysis against entire genomes of pathogens and their host species to find a new generation of safe and effective vaccines, with the mission of rapidly delivering robust protection from serious disease through its enabling technology and novel vaccine products for human and veterinary markets. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including statements regarding the efficacy and intended utilization of SIGA's technologies under development and to be acquired, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause such differences include the risk that potential products that appeared promising in early research or clinical trials to SIGA or its collaborators do not demonstrate efficacy or safety in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical trials, and the risk that SIGA or its collaborators will not obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to market products tested in such trials. More detailed information about SIGA and the factors discussed above is set forth in SIGA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including SIGA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and in other documents that SIGA has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read those documents free of charge at the Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov. Those documents may also be obtained free of charge from SIGA. SIGA does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information about SIGA, please visit the Company's Web site, www.siga.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: SIGA Technologies, Inc. Thomas N. Konatich, 212/672-9100 or Investor Contact: Willstar Consultants, Inc. Dianne Will, 518/398-6222 dwill@willstar.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: SIGA Technologies, Inc.