SAN DIEGO, July 27 Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AEMD) today disclosed it has entered into an agreement that extends studies of the Aethlon Hemopurifier(R) with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA). The Hemopurifier(R) is the first-in-class medical device to selectively adsorb viruses and immunosuppressive toxins from the bloodstream. The device has been designed to enhance the benefit of antiviral drug regimens, and it provides a therapeutic option against infectious viruses not addressed by drug and vaccine therapies.
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The objectives of the USAMRIID agreement include determining the therapeutic efficacy of the Hemopurifier(R) in non-human primate studies against hemorrhagic fever viruses, including the highly virulent Zaire strain of Ebola (ZEBOV). Hemorrhagic viruses are potential bioterror and pandemic threats, whose lethality prohibits the ability to conduct human studies.
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Aethlon also disclosed that studies previously conducted by USAMRIID have documented the Hemopurifier(R) captures approximately 50% of both wild type and mutant strains of ZEBOV from fluids during one hour in vitro studies. ZEBOV has the highest virus case-fatality rate, up to 90% in some epidemics, with an average case fatality rate of approximately 83% over 27 years. There have been more outbreaks ZEBOV that any other strain of Ebola virus.
"It is an honor and privilege to have USAMRIID researchers test the capability of our Hemopurifier(R) against Ebola and other highly lethal pathogens," stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce. USAMRIID, located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the lead laboratory for the Medical Biological Defense Research Program, and plays a key role in national defense and in infectious disease research. The Institute plays a key role as the only laboratory in the Department of Defense (DOD) equipped to study Ebola and other highly hazardous infectious agents requiring maximum containment at bio-safety level four (BSL-4). The information contained in this press release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government and no official endorsement should be inferred.
About Aethlon Medical
Aethlon Medical creates diagnostic and therapeutic device solutions for infectious disease and cancer. Our Hemopurifier(R) represents the first-in-class medical device to selectively adsorb viruses and immunosuppressive toxins from the bloodstream. The Hemopurifier(R) seeks to improve Hepatitis-C treatment outcomes and serves as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against bioterror and pandemic threats. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical can be accessed online at www.aethlonmedical.com.
Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the capability of the Hemopurifier(R) to reduce viral loads and other disease conditions, including hemorrhagic fever viruses, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Contacts: Jon Cunningham RedChip Companies Inc. (407) 644-4256 (407) 491-4498 -cell www.redchip.com [email protected] Jim Joyce Chairman, CEO 858.459.7800 x301 [email protected] Jim Frakes Senior VP Finance 858.459.7800 x300 [email protected]
SOURCE Aethlon Medical, Inc.
