United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to Combat Viral
Diseases
December 1, 2006
Functional Genetics, Inc. announced today that it has received two
different awards from the United States Defense Threat Reduction
Agency for the discovery and development of therapeutics for Ebola
virus and other viral pathogens.
"These awards from DTRA will greatly assist our mission of discovering
innovative means to combat infectious disease," said Michael
Goldblatt, Chief Executive Officer of Functional Genetics. "Functional
Genetics is committed to developing broad-spectrum, host-oriented
therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases that impact both
the civilian and military communities."
Under the agreement, Functional Genetics will direct the development
of two distinct approaches to target virally-infected cells.
Functional Genetics has been pioneering new opportunities to develop
anti-infective therapeutics using its novel Host-Oriented Therapeutics
(HOT) strategy. Funding from DTRA will sponsor the development of two
very different, yet broad-based, therapeutics for viral disease. Both
programs are specifically designed to overcome issues that have
previously eluded anti-infective therapies, including acquired drug
resistance and the relatively narrow spectrum of current therapies.
These programs will include the development of at least one antibody
product and one small molecule inhibitor of hemorrhagic fever viruses,
including Ebola. Functional Genetics will conduct this program in
collaboration with The US Army Medical Research Institute of
Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The small molecule program will
utilize novel technologies pioneered by an additional subcontractor,
Evolva SA (Allschwil, Switzerland). These programs are intended to
allow Functional Genetics to advance new therapeutic opportunities for
viral infection to clinical trials. The initiation of this
collaboration is another step in Functional Genetics’ ongoing
commitment to develop innovative broad-spectrum anti-infectives.
About Functional Genetics, Inc.
Functional Genetics is a privately-held biopharmaceutcal company
dedicated to advancing science to develop novel approaches that
address intractable human diseases and means of accelerating
therapeutic options. The Company was formed to leverage its
proprietary Random Homozygous Gene Perturbation (RHGP) technology in
the creation of new therapies and enhancement of industrial
bioprocessing. The company's initial therapeutic products, through its
enabling focus of Host Oriented Therapeutics, address the unmet
medical need of developing highly effective broad spectrum therapies
for infectious diseases. These broad spectrum products are designed to
circumvent microbial resistance mechanisms that often lead to
therapeutic failures. Functional Genetics has identified and is
establishing medical validity of treatments that target host cellular
proteins required for the propagation and pathogenicity of disease-
causing viruses including HIV, Influenza, RSV, and diseases of
bioterrorism such as Ebola. The Company is currently moving toward
clinical testing of the first of its new generation of broad spectrum
anti-viral products. The Company's first industrial product is an
enhanced cell line whose individual cell productivity is significantly
superior to those of existing cell lines. Functional Genetics is
headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. For more information, visit
the company's website at http://www.functional-genetics.com.
About Evolva.
Evolva evolves small molecule drugs using massively combinatorial gene
libraries that drive chemistry rich pathways. Its Watchmaker®
technology platform replicates, on an industrial basis, the ability of
nature to evolve molecules with exquisite “design”, but with the
evolution directly aimed at making functional drugs – HIV blockers,
anti-obesity compounds etc. Watchmaker® can create, optimize and
manufacture molecules that are outside the scope of the traditional
synthetic approaches of the industry. For more information see www.evolva.com
About the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) safeguards America and its
allies from weapons of mass destruction by providing capabilities to
reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat, and mitigate its effects.
This Department of Defense agency is located at Fort Belvoir,
Virginia, and operates field offices worldwide. For further
information see www.dtra.mil
This announcement contains, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, in particular, related to the research and development
of a potential treatment for viral diseases. Such statements reflect
management's current views and are based on certain assumptions.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated. There can be no assurance that such development efforts
will succeed, that such products will receive required regulatory
clearance or that, even if such regulatory clearance is received, such
products will ultimately achieve commercial success.
SOURCE: Functional Genetics, Inc.
CONTACT: Media: Michael Kinch at +1-240-631-6799.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Functional
Genetics’ business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking
statements" that involve risks and uncertainties.