GeneThera Releases Results From Initial Animal Tests Of E.Coli O157:h7 Vaccine Amid News Of Increase Of E.Coli Discoveries In Beef Products

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 18 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PST

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GeneThera, Inc. (Pink Sheets: GTHR), released information about its E.Coli O157:H7 vaccine.

The vaccine consists of Live Attenuated Bacterial Vaccine to Reduce or Inhibit Carriage and Shedding of Enterohemorrihagic Escherichia Coli in Cattle. This vaccine was developed for use against Shiga toxin-producing E.Coli (STEC) in cattle. This strategy is to construct mutants that have deletion in the genes responsible for E.Coli O157:H7 toxicity. Along with the mutation to inactivate the Shiga toxin gene, the modified bacteria also carry a mutation that inactivates genes that allows the growth of the E.Coli 0157:H7 in the cow intestine. These modifications will greatly attenuate bacterial virulence.

According to Dr. Tony Milici MD, PhD, GeneThera's Chairman and CEO, "Initial experimental animal trials in both challenged rabbits and mice showed a reduction of 99% E.Coli shedding in vaccinated animals when compared with control animals." GeneThera is aggressively pursuing a distribution partner to assist in bringing this vaccine/therapy technology to market.

Their efforts are bolstered by the recent report from the Washington Post dated November 10, which stated "...There were 21 beef recalls in the United States in 2007, compared with eight the year before. About a third of the recalls were prompted by reports of human illness, while none of the 2006 recalls were. This year, meat inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have continued to see more contaminated beef samples. Through mid-October, they had recorded 50 percent more than at the same time last year."

Officials have assumed that these numbers reflect an overall increase in the prevalence of the E.Coli strain in cattle, but no one has been able to explain why the dangerous bacteria have become more abundant.

Given the recent emergence of a similar product from a competitor, we feel that now is the time to begin a full court press to bring our vaccine to the forefront of the agricultural and food industries. We believe very strongly that our vaccine is a far superior product to that of our competition.

To help bring awareness to GeneThera and its efforts, we have engaged two very well known multimedia investor relations firms, Wallst.net and StockBully.com.

Both firms are multimedia investor relation's sources that seek out promising and mostly undiscovered companies in the market place and enable their clients to utilize multimedia marketing to gain exposure via the information highway.

"GeneThera is a fantastic company with a solid business model and superior management. We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to assist them in their effort to increase investor awareness in the financial market," said Adam Ben-Evi, President of Stockbully.com.

About E.Coli O157:h7

There are a variety of Escherichia coli bacteria present in nature. They are usually found in the intestines of healthy humans and healthy animals. Even though these bacteria offer beneficial properties, there are those variations, or strains that are pathogenic (have the ability to cause disease). Escherichia coli 0157:H7 is one particular strain that is "... an emerging cause of food borne illness ..." Symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps may be observed or no such symptoms may appear. The elderly and children under five years old are highly susceptible to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and kidneys fail.

According to the CDC "...there may be about 70,000 infections with E. Coli O157:H7 each year in the United States. We can only estimate because we know that many infected people do not seek medical care, many do not submit a stool specimen for testing, and many labs do not test for STEC. The bacteria that make these toxins are called 'Shiga toxin producing' E. coli, or STEC for short." Shiga toxin is one of the most potent toxins known to man, so much so that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists it as a potential bioterrorist agent (CDC, n.d.).

ABOUT GENETHERA, INC.

GeneThera, Inc. is a molecular biotechnology company located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The Company provides genetic diagnostic solutions for the veterinary and agricultural industries with future plans to include the healthcare industry. The Company's proprietary diagnostic solution is based on a genetic expression assay, GES(TM), a protocol designed to function on a highly automated Fluorogenic PCR platform. This platform enables GeneThera to offer tests that are presently not available from other technologies. The GES is designed for a host of individual diseases, the current priorities being Mad Cow disease, Chronic Wasting Disease, E. coli 0157:H7 and Johne's disease, all diseases affecting cattle worldwide.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "intends," "believes," and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

GeneThera, Inc.
http://www.genethera.net