iBio Technology Produces Vaccine Candidate for Recently Emerged H7N9 Influenza

NEWARK, Del., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- PRNewswire – iBio, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IBIO) today announced the production of a vaccine candidate for the newly emerged H7N9 influenza virus by an independent third party laboratory using the iBioLaunch™ platform. This validation milestone was achieved in 21 days as measured from initial antigen sequence information to purification of recombinant protein.

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The iBioLaunch platform eliminates the need to culture cells under sterile conditions, removes uncertainty about yield consistency for large volumes of production, and, subject to regulatory approval, could deliver vaccine doses for emergency use against pandemic and bioterrorism threats in weeks rather than the months necessary with the use of engineered or attenuated virus strains.  The iBioLaunch platform has been used previously to produce vaccine-quality antigens associated with a broad range of influenza strains including H7N7, H5N1, H3N2, H1N1, and various strains of influenza B.  

These vaccine applications of the iBioLaunch platform are of particular interest to governments and state corporations that seek autonomy in the manufacture of critical biopharmaceuticals to protect their own populations.

About the Threat of Emerging Viruses

The H7N9 influenza virus has killed 36 of 131 people reported to have been infected in China.  The emergence of new influenza and other virus strains is a constant public health risk that is only partially addressed with commonly used technologies. Because of the slowness of conventional approaches to vaccine development and production, the only effective control measures currently employed in many circumstances involve patient isolation and supportive care.

About iBio, Inc.

iBio develops and offers product applications of its iBioLaunch and iBioModulator™ platforms, providing collaborators full support for turn-key implementation of its technology for both proprietary and biosimilar products. Additionally, iBio is developing select product candidates that have been derived from the iBioLaunch platform.  The iBioLaunch platform is a proprietary, transformative technology for development and production of biologics using transient gene expression in unmodified green plants.  The iBioModulator platform is complementary to the iBioLaunch platform and is designed to significantly improve vaccine products with both higher potency and greater duration of effect.  The iBioModulator platform can be used with any recombinant expression technology for vaccine development and production. Further information is available at: www.ibioinc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE RELATED TO IBIO, INC. MAY CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH STATEMENTS INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES SUCH AS COMPETITIVE FACTORS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, MARKET DEMAND, AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN NEW CONTRACTS AND ACCURATELY ESTIMATE NET REVENUES DUE TO VARIABILITY IN SIZE, SCOPE AND DURATION OF PROJECTS. FURTHER INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPANY'S REPORTS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. 

SOURCE iBio, Inc.