Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Awarded New U.S. Patent Further Strengthening Its Anti-Phospholipid Patent...( -- New Claims Cover Phospholipid...)

-- New Claims Cover Phospholipid-Targeting Compounds Linked to Anti-Viral Agents --

TUSTIN, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM) today reported the issuance of a U.S. patent that further strengthens the company's intellectual property leadership in the field of phospholipid-targeting agents for the treatment of life-threatening diseases. The new patent grants composition of matter claims that cover multiple formulations of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-binding agents attached to a wide variety of anti-viral agents. PE belongs to the aminophospholipid family that also includes phosphatidylserine (PS), the target for Peregrine's monoclonal antibody bavituximab that is in a clinical trial for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in preclinical studies for HIV and other viral infections. This new patent follows issuance last year of broad methods patents covering use of PE-binding agents in anti-viral applications.

"Our anti-viral program has gained momentum over the past year with prestigious scientific publications and presentations, as well as the award of a major federal contract to Peregrine for the development of our anti-PS antibodies for biodefense applications," said Steven W. King, president and CEO of Peregrine. "Our growing patent estate in the closely related field of anti-PE binding agents should provide us with additional scientific and strategic options for leveraging our promising anti-viral assets."

The science underlying Peregrine's patents for anti-viral applications of PE-targeting agents was presented at a scientific conference last year by Dr. Melina Soares of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center(1). Dr. Soares presented data showing that similar to PS, the aminophospholipid PE is normally located on t
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