Nature Medicine study shows Peregrine's bavituximab can cure lethal virus ...(s a lipid molecule normally found on the...)

Date:11/23/2008

s a lipid molecule normally found on the inside of cell membranes that "flips" and becomes exposed on the outside of the membranes of enveloped viruses and virally infected cells. Exposed PS enables viruses to evade immune recognition and dampens the body's normal responses to infection. By masking the exposed PS, bavituximab and other anti-PS antibodies may block these effects and allow the body to develop a robust immune response to the viral pathogen. Anti-PS antibodies have been shown to help clear infectious virus from the bloodstream and to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, an important anti-viral immune response.

Researchers have found that PS is exposed on the outer membrane of cells infected with HIV, influenza (including avian flu), herpes simplex viruses, hemorrhagic fever viruses, measles and members of the small pox and rabies virus families.

Dr. Barton Haynes, director of Duke University's Human Vaccine Institute and the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI) is currently investigating PS as a potential target for preventing HIV infection. He commented, "Targeting a host cell lipid such as PS as an anti-viral strategy is an intriguing concept that may have relevance for new therapeutic and possibly prophylactic innovations in a number of virus infections."

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Contact: Barbara Lindheim blindheim@biocompartners.com 212-918-4650 BioCom Partners Source:Eurekalert

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