WORCESTER, Mass., Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Eric von Hofe, PhD, President of Antigen Express, Inc. (www.antigenexpress.com), the wholly-owned immunotherapeutics subsidiary of Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq:GNBT) (www.generex.com), is currently featured on the Homeland Security Television Channel, an on-demand television network dedicated to homeland security and global development. The segment can be viewed online at www.hstvchannel.com and will be available later today at www.generex.com.
Interviewed by program host and executive producer Dan Verton in an episode titled "2009 Influenza Pandemic Preparedness," Dr. von Hofe discussed the shifting types of flu strains, resulting in new vaccines every season, and distinguished vaccines from antiviral agents and methods that would help cut down on the transmission of the H1N1 virus.
Antigen Express is developing novel immunotherapeutic and prophylactic vaccines for influenza. The Company has obtained broad and strong patent coverage for its proprietary platform technologies, which would manufacture modified peptide vaccines by an entirely synthetic process, in contrast with egg-based or cell-culture-based vaccines that require expensive, extensive and labor-intensive manipulation.
"The H1N1 virus has tremendous infectivity in people and was cause for alarm," noted von Hofe. "While H5N1 avian influenza has had a limited impact on humans, the H1N1 virus has shown itself to be highly contagious in humans and might come back."
Dr. von Hofe described best practices for steering clear of the virus and also provided commentary on the new clinical trials approved by the FDA that look at a one-dosage vaccination that would benefit the most vulnerable age demographics, including pregnant women and children six months of age through 24 years of age.
Antigen Express's entirely synthetic vaccine platform reduces cost and increases both the speed and quantity of production. This is of particular benefit in meeting rapidly emerging viral threats such as the potentially pandemic H5N1 avian and H1N1 swine influenzas. Vaccines developed using this platform are already in various stage clinical trials for avian flu, as well as prostate, breast and ovarian cancers.
About Generex Biotechnology Corporation
Generex is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). The Company's proprietary liquid formulations allow drugs typically administered by injection to be absorbed into the body by the lining of the inner mouth using the Company's proprietary RapidMist(TM) device. The Company's flagship product, oral insulin (Generex Oral-lyn(TM)), which is available for sale in India, Lebanon, Algeria, and Ecuador for the treatment of subjects with Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes, is in Phase III clinical trials at several sites around the world. Antigen Express, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex. The core platform technologies of Antigen Express comprise immunotherapeutics for the treatment of malignant, infectious, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. For more information, visit the Generex website at www.generex.com or the Antigen Express website at www.antigenexpress.com.
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