Oxis Praises Biden's 'Cancer Moonshot,' Says its Portfolio of Targeted Immunotherapies Provides Next-Generation Cancer Treatments

LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxis Biotech Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxis International Inc. [OTC: OXIS and Euronext Paris: OXI.PA], expressed its support of the "cancer moonshot," which seeks to incentivize cooperation between the government and the private sector in the development of new treatments for cancer.

In an article published Wednesday by Bloomberg News, Vice President Biden and former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg described the moonshot as an effort to find a cure for cancer by supporting the same "American ingenuity" that sent humankind to the moon.

"We believe that it's time for a full and complete national commitment to rid the world of this disease, because the truth is that ending cancer as we know it is finally within our grasp," Biden and Bloomberg wrote.

Oxis is proud to be part of that effort. The company has a robust portfolio of next-generation cancer initiatives – the type the "Moonshot" is focused on. Oxis' lead drug candidate, OXS-1550, is in Phase 1/Phase 2 clinical trial at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center as a treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and leukemia.

Inventors of OXS-1550 recently received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  Oxis holds worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize OXS-1550.

OXS-1550 is a bispecific immunotherapy designed to hunt cancer cells and kill them, without damaging healthy cells.

"These are exciting times in biotech, with many promising new approaches for the treatment of cancer," said Anthony Cataldo, Chairman and Chief Executive of Oxis. "Vice President Biden is correct in his optimism that one day cancer will not be a death sentence. Oxis is optimistic that OXS-1550 can be an effective alternative to chemotherapy."

Oxis has other drug candidates: OXS-1750, a treatment for multiple myeloma, and OXS-1850, a treatment for breast cancer.

On March 1, Oxis disclosed that that is research partners have made significant progress in the race to find a cure for Zika.

Dr. Sean Xie, a research scientist, professor of pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh and a member of Oxis' Scientific Advisory Board, said he has identified small molecule chemical inhibitors that target nonstructural proteins "with the potential for blocking Zika virus replication."

Dr. Xie is leading a Zika used his TargetHunter computer modeling system to break down key proteins the Zika virus needs for replication. That allowed him to identify inhibitors that could block the virus from replicating.

Dr. Xie is Associate Dean for Research Innovation and a member of the Drug Discovery Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Oxis is hopeful that Dr. Xie's findings could help develop a vaccine and treatment for the Zika virus and greatly slow the spread of the disease.

The Zika virus, first identified 50 years ago, is spread through mosquito bites and has been linked to an increase in a rare birth defect, making the virus a significant threat to pregnant women. Additionally, there is a concern that the Zika virus can be spread sexually.

In January, the World Health Organization designated the Zika virus an international public health emergency. The agency estimated that virus will spread throughout the world and infect some 4 million people by the end of the year.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on February 26, 2016, advised pregnant women to avoid traveling to Brazil, site of the upcoming Olympic Games, because the Zika virus is a particular problem in that country. As many as 1.5 million people are believed to have become infected with Zika in Brazil.

ABOUT OXIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Oxis International, Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary, Oxis Biotech, Inc., develops innovative drugs focused on the treatment of cancer and other unmet medical needs. Oxis' lead drug candidate, OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL) is a novel bispecific scFv recombinant fusion protein-drug conjugate composed of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 antibodies and a modified form of diphtheria toxin as its cytotoxic drug payload. OXS-1550 simultaneously targets cancer cells expressing the CD19 receptor or CD22 receptor or both receptors. When OXS-1550 binds to cancer cells, the cancer cells internalize the drug and are killed due to the action of drug's cytotoxic payload. OXS-1550 has demonstrated success in early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. OXS-4235 is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of multiple myeloma and associated osteolytic lesions. In in vitro and in vivo models of multiple myeloma and osteoporosis, OXS-4235 demonstrated the ability to kill multiple myeloma cells, and decrease osteolytic lesions in bone. OXIS' lead drug candidate, OXS-2175, is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC, OXS-2175 demonstrated the ability to inhibit metastasis.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS - Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the payment of dividends, marketing and distribution plans, development activities and anticipated operating results. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as the Company's ability to accomplish its business initiatives, significant fluctuations in marketing expenses and ability to achieve and expand significant levels of revenues, or recognize net income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the introduction of competing products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company website: www.oxis.com

SOURCE Oxis International, Inc.

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