Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Reports Studies Published in 'Science' Highlight Key Role of Phosphatidylserine (PS) in Viral ...( - Two New Studies Provide Further Evi...)

- Two New Studies Provide Further Evidence that PS Plays a Critical Role in

Some Viral Infections - - Peregrine's Anti-PS Antibody Bavituximab is Currently Being Assessed in a

Clinical Trial in HCV Patients Co-Infected with HIV -

TUSTIN, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, today reported that two independent studies recently published in the journal Science (1,2) highlight the critical importance of the cellular membrane lipid phosphatidylserine (PS) in the ability of some enveloped viruses to infect cells. Peregrine is a leader in the development of anti-PS therapies. Its lead anti-PS antibody bavituximab has successfully completed two Phase I trials in HCV patients and is currently in a clinical trial in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV. Bavituximab is also being assessed in a Phase I single agent cancer study and in Phase II cancer trials in combination with chemotherapy.

"These two excellent studies from independent groups of researchers exemplify the growing interest in the scientific community in the role of PS in viral infectivity and important aspects of immunity," said Steven W. King, president and CEO of Peregrine. "In particular, we believe that the paper discussing the vaccinia virus(1) independently confirms some of the key mechanisms underlying the anti-viral potential of our anti-PS antibodies. It shows that PS is essential to the ability of the virus to infect cells, and that when PS is blocked, infection cannot occur. The study also discusses how PS helps the virus to evade
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