Hemispherx Enters Major Contract With Lovelace Respiratory Institute

Projected New Data to Enhance Ampligen(r) NDA Filing Status in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Press Release
• Source: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
• On 12:43 pm EST, Tuesday November 18, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (AMEX:HEB - News) announced it has entered a contract, valued at more than $1 Million, with Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI), Albuquerque, N.M. LRRI is the nation's largest independent, not-for-profit organization conducting basic and applied research on the causes and treatment of respiratory illness and disease. LRRI research includes preclinical studies of new pharmaceuticals including Ampligen(r), an experimental therapeutic.

Related Quotes

Symbol	Price	Change
HEB	1.21	-0.02

{"s" : "heb","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""}

The projected preclinical studies are designed to enhance the cellular understanding of Ampligen(r)'s molecular actions across various animal species, including man, and should facilitate the filing of additional NDAs (New Drug Applications) for potential treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in various countries outside North America. The new studies anticipate close operational collaborations between the Company's New Brunswick, N.J. research staff and the LRRI staff.

Hemispherx and LRRI have a longstanding relationship, most recently collaborating on a preclinical study of Ampligen(r), an experimental therapeutic, to facilitate the Hemispherx clinical development plan with the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases (JNIID). JNIID is pursuing a clinical developmental initiative involving Ampligen(r), applied intranasally, with various influenza vaccines for potential protection against pandemic influenza. Preclinical studies performed at LRRI evaluated the safety profile of Ampligen(r) applied by novel intranasal routes.

About Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI)

Founded in 1947 as a not-for-profit corporation, LRRI employs more than 80 PhD level scientists with a supporting staff in excess of 500 and an annual budget of approximately $70 Million per year 2008. LRRI scientists work in a collaborative and flexible environment, teaming with investigators in other organizations to maximize complementary strengths, scientific knowledge and innovation.

About Hemispherx Biopharma

Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is a specialty pharma company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx's flagship products include Alferon N Injection(r) (FDA approved for a category of sexually transmitted diseases) and the experimental therapeutics, Ampligen(r) and Oragens. Ampligen(r) and Oragens represent experimental RNA nucleic acids being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system. Hemispherx's platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Hemispherx has in excess of 50 issued patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection(r)). The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit http://www.hemispherx.net.

Information contained in this news release other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the strategies and operations of Hemispherx involve risk of competition, changing market conditions, change in laws and regulations affecting these industries and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any specifically referenced investigational drugs and associated technologies of the Company (including Ampligen(r), Alferon LDO and Oragens) are experimental in nature and as such are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials with the referenced disorders. The forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Clinical trials for other potential indications of the approved biologic Alferon N Injection(r) do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indications; similarly, the completion of the NDA filing process with Ampligen(r) does not imply that the product will ever be approved commercially.

          Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
          Company/Investor Contact:
          Dianne Will
          518-398-6222
          ir@hemispherx.net

          CCG Investor Relations
          Sean Collins, Sr. Partner
          310-477-9800