Lipid Sciences Granted Two Fundamental Viral Immunotherapy Patents

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 08 Aug 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Lipid Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIPD) announced the issuance of two key patents covering fundamental aspects of the Company's Viral Immunotherapy platform. These two patents, 1) U.S. Patent No. 7,407,662 entitled, "Modified Viral Particles with Immunogenic Properties and Reduced Lipid Content," and 2) U.S. Patent No. 7,407,663, "Modified Immunodeficiency Virus Particles" cover the basic composition of viral particles resulting from Lipid Sciences' proprietary viral delipidation process.

Dr. S. Lewis Meyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "In a recent July 25, 2008 issue of Science, Anthony Fauci, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, together with leading researchers in the field of HIV prevention and research, called for an overhaul in the search for an HIV vaccine. Recent high-profile failures of vaccine trials have forced researchers to conclude that the design of a vaccine that blocks HIV infection will require enormous leaps beyond present-day knowledge. The validation by the USPTO of the novelty of Lipid Sciences' viral delipidation as a technique for vaccine development not only represents a new direction in HIV vaccine research but also adds important assets to Lipid Sciences' broad base of intellectual property. These patents, together with the very positive results of Lipid Sciences' pre-clinical studies in SIV-infected non-human primates, should provide a compelling opportunity and rationale for Lipid Sciences to pursue financing to move this important program forward."

Lipid Sciences, Inc. is a development-stage biotechnology company engaged in the research and development of products and processes intended to treat major medical indications, in which lipids, or fat components, play a key role. The Company's HDL Therapy platform (HDL Mimetic Peptides and HDL Selective Delipidation) aims to develop treatments to reverse atherosclerosis, a systemic disease caused by the build-up of cholesterol-filled plaques in the vascular system and, most critically, in the coronary arteries. Regression of such plaques may have a major impact on reducing the risk of acute coronary events. The Company's Viral Immunotherapy platform focuses on the removal of the lipid coatings from lipid-enveloped viruses and other lipid-containing infectious agents by applying Lipid Sciences' proprietary delipidation technologies. The Company believes that removing the virus' protective lipid coating enhances the processing and presentation of viral proteins to stimulate the body's immune system to effectively fight the disease. Conditions that could potentially be impacted by these technologies include HIV, SARS, and influenza. In addition, Lipid Sciences believes that this Viral Immunotherapy platform also has applicability to a wide range of viruses impacting animal health -- a diverse market with diseases affecting both food and companion animals.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, study results, anticipations, expectations, future events or performance as well as all other statements that are not statements of historical fact. The forward-looking statements contained in this release reflect our current beliefs and expectations on the date of this release. Actual results, performance or outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed in the forward-looking statements. Readers should refer to the documents filed by us with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition to those risk factors, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: our inability to obtain adequate funds; our technologies not proving to be safe or effective; our inability to obtain regulatory approval of our technologies, which are only in the clinical development stage; delay or failure to complete clinical studies; our dependence on our license agreement with Aruba International B.V.; our reliance on collaborations with strategic partners and consultants; our reliance on key suppliers to provide the material necessary to conduct successful pre-clinical and clinical studies; competition in our industry, including the development of new products by others that may provide alternative or better therapies; failure to secure and enforce our intellectual property rights; risks associated with use of biological and hazardous materials; acceptance of our potential products by healthcare providers and patients; and our dependence on key personnel.

This release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Copies are available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. Lipid Sciences assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this document.

Lipid Sciences