Exhibit 99.1
June 12, 2008
As I announced in my earlier update letter, dated March 28th, 2008, our new strategic direction includes a primary focus on building upon the scientific data that originally demonstrated the effects of our compound, Homspera®, on adult stem cells and simultaneously developing relationships that will allow us to license the compound for therapeutic development. Since that time, several research studies have been completed by leading stem cell scientists that examined the effects of Homspera on human, adult stem cells. After removal from human bone marrow, these cells were exposed to Homspera and evaluated for changes in their growth and maturation. The basis of these experiments was to deepen our understanding of how Homspera stimulates the immune system and thus support more aggressive licensing efforts. These studies also enabled us to fulfill the second of three financial milestones ahead of the schedule specified in our funding agreement with Yorkville Financial Advisors. We are pleased to share with you that with these results we expect to be better positioned to attract more advantageous pre-clinical licensing opportunities
Collectively, our findings demonstrate Homspera’s effectiveness in activating adult stem cells – specifically blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells. Homspera has been shown to stimulate differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and increase the number of red blood cell, platelet and white blood cell precursors, the latter of which ultimately become the functional cells of the immune system. The effects of Homspera are greatest in enhancing granulocyte/macrophage precursors, which together comprise over 70% of the white blood cells in the body. Mature granulocytes and macrophages fight infection partly by engulfing and destroying invading microorganisms, a vital function of the immune system. We have seen results, using bone marrow from several human donors, where the addition of Homspera to stem cell cultures increases the formation of granulocyte/macrophage precursors to more than 200% of control values as indicated on the research reports we have received.
This data suggests Homspera may be of potential benefit in situations where regenerating and strengthening the immune system is imperative, as with individuals recovering from influenza or undergoing chemotherapy. More importantly, it also suggests an underlying mechanism of action for Homspera in cases of radiation poisoning. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays or gamma rays), the dividing blood cell precursors of the bone marrow are the most easily damaged. We have demonstrated in multiple studies performed at various academic, commercial and governmental laboratories that Homspera increases circulating white blood cell counts in irradiated animals, negating this damage and ultimately contributing to an increased survival. These results can be explained, in part, by Homspera’s ability to increase white blood cell precursors.
While direct effects of Homspera on cells of the immune system, as well as cells of the skin, may underlie the effects seen in our infectious disease and wound healing studies, it is also possible that Homspera’s action on adult stem cells underlies these effects as well. The enhanced immune response seen in Viprovex (Homspera derivative)-treated animals exposed to influenza virus or in animals exposed to virus particles in vaccines, where Viprovex has shown adjuvant activity, might follow directly from elevations in immune cells from bone marrow. Similarly the acceleration in wound healing we’ve reported in animals exposed to topically applied Homspera might reflect an enlistment of adult stem cells to replace injured skin cells. Additional research and studies will be needed to confirm any such conclusions.
This stem cell data from these studies helps to bridge our diverse portfolio of research studies using Homspera and provides the company with confirmation of our scientific focus and anticipated long term success. Homspera’s ability to enhance stem cell activity follows the myriad of animal studies and the results we’ve reported previously for Homspera use in a wide variety of therapeutic areas such as radiation exposure, vaccine adjuvancy, infectious disease and wound healing. Furthermore, with this understanding reached from these studies, we anticipate that the blood disorder indications (noted in attached slide) could potentially create additional licensing opportunities for the company.
We remain excited about our direction and confident that follow-on studies will confirm and extend the benefits that we have seen to date.
Michael K. Wilhelm
Chief Executive Officer
Statements about IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc.’s future expectations, including statements about the potential use and scientific results for IR BioSciences’ drug candidates, science and technology, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. IR BioSciences intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These future events may not occur as and when expected, if at all, and, together with IR BioSciences’ business, are subject to various risks and uncertainties. IR BioSciences’ actual results could differ materially from expected results as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainties inherent in research and development collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical trials and product development programs (including, but not limited to the fact that future results or research and development efforts may prove less encouraging than current results or cause side effects not observed in current pre-clinical trials), the evaluation of potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures and monies available for further studies, capital market conditions, and others set forth in IR BioSciences’ periodic report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are no guarantees that any of IR BioSciences’ proposed products will prove to be commercially successful. IR BioSciences undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Indications
Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Disorders Acute Myelofibrosis Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia (Myelofibrosis) Amyloidosis Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Essential Thrombocythemia Polycythemia Vera Refractory Anemias including: Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transformation Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts Leukemias and Lymphomas Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Hodgkin's Lymphoma Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia Myeloid/Natural Killer Cell Precursor Acute Leukemia Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Polymphocytic Leukemia Bone Marrow Failure Disorders Amegakaryocytosis Aplastic Anemia (Severe) Blackfan-Diamond Anemia Congenital Cytopenia Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia Dyskeratosis Congenita Fanconi Anemia Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Pure Red Cell Aplasia | Inherited Metabolic Disorders Adrenoleukodystrophy Fucosidosis Gaucher Disease Hunter Syndrome (MPS-II) Hurler Syndrome (MPS-IH) Krabbe Disease Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome Mannosidosis Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS-VI) Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Mucolipidosis II (I-cell Disease) Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Niemann-Pick Disease Sandhoff Disease Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS-III) Scheie Syndrome (MPS-IS) Sly Syndrome Tay Sachs Wolman Disease Plasma Cell Disorders Multiple Myeloma Plasma Cell Leukemia Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Other Inherited Disorders Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria DiGeorge Syndrome Osteopetrosis Other Chronic Active Epstein Barr Evans Syndrome Multiple Sclerosis Rheumatoid Arthritis Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Thymic Dysplasia |  | Inherited Immune System Disorders Chronic Granulomatous Disease Congenital Neutropenia Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiencies (SCID) Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome Chediak-Higashi Syndrome Kostmann Syndrome Omenn Syndrome Purine Nucleoside PhosphorylaseDeficiency Reticular Dysgenesis Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disorder Histiocytic Disorders Familial Erythrophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Hemophagocytosis Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis (Histiocytosis X) Other Malignancies Brain Tumors Ewing Sarcoma Neuroblastoma Ovarian Cancer Renal Cell Carcinoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Small Cell Lung Cancer Testicular Cancer Thymoma (Thymic Carcinoma) Hemoblobinopathies Beta Thalassemia Major Sickle Cell Disease |
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