AEGiS-PRn: Demegen Reports Favorable Results For Microbicide

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Demegen Reports Favorable Results For Microbicide

PRNewswire - Thursday December 21, 2000

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Demegen, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: DBOT - news) reports confirmation that Demegen's antimicrobial peptide vaginal microbicide is effective in killing Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted organism that infects over 4 million people annually in the USA. These new research results are important because they show that the microbicidal activity in a gel formulation is maintained at varying pH and in the presence of human blood, two conditions expected to be found in the urogenital tracts of humans. Results of the recently completed in vitro studies at the University of Washington in Seattle have been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Prior company sponsored research has shown that D2A21 kills Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and HIV, spares beneficial organisms, and is safe and nonirritating to vaginal tissue. These characteristics make Demegen's gel an ideal vaginal microbicide for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Demegen is actively pursuing the development of this gel, and is completing the necessary requirements for filing an IND with the FDA. At this time, primate efficacy studies using the gel in the prevention of Chlamydia and HIV are in progress at the Regional Primate Center in Seattle, WA. Results from these experiments are expected in the first part of 2001.

In both developed and developing countries, there is a compelling need for a female-controlled, over-the-counter vaginal microbicide for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are currently the only method available to prevent the spread of STIs, but partners' use of them can not be negotiated in many cases. Each year in the USA, 4 million cases of Chlamydia infection are reported. However 75% of women and 50% of men are asymptomatic, and unwitting carriers of the disease. If left untreated, Chlamydia infection in women leads to pelvic inflammatory disease, which in turn leads to infertility, ectopic pregnancies, and a 3-5 times greater risk of acquiring HIV. There are over 800,000 cases of Gonorrhea infections in the US each year, which also leaves a woman at increased risk of acquiring HIV. Diagnosed Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections are treated with antibiotics at an annual health care cost of over $2 billion. For HIV, over 400,000 people in the US are infected, and 46% of them are women. On a worldwide basis, 33.6 million people are estimated to be living with HIV and 95% of these people live in the developing world. The market for a vaginal microbicide in the USA alone is estimated to be $1.5 billion.

Demegen discovers, designs and develops novel peptides for the treatment of cancer, cystic fibrosis, multi-drug resistant bacteria and fungi. In addition to pharmaceutical products, applications also include genetically enhanced agricultural products. Dow AgroSciences LLC has licensed two broad agricultural applications. Demegen expects to initiate human clinical trials for pharmaceutical applications soon. Demegen's web site is www.demegen.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan," "confident that," "believe," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional financings and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filings.

For more information, contact: Richard Ekstrom, President of Demegen, 412-241-2150, E-mail: info@demegen.com; or The Wall Street Group, 212-888-4848.

SOURCE: Demegen, Inc.

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