Exhibit 99
[HADRON, INC. LOGO]
Release: IMMEDIATE
For: HADRON, INC.
(Symbol: HDRN)
Contact: Amber Gordon
Dr. Ken Alibek
(703) 329-9400
Hadron Advanced Biosystems Files Nine
New Biodefense Provisional Patent Applications
Alexandria, VA, May 21, 2002 -- Hadron, Inc. (OTC BB: HDRN) today announced the
filing, by its Advanced Biosystems, Inc. subsidiary, of nine provisional patent
applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These provisional patent
applications cover novel treatments of Anthrax and Filovirus infections, a new
approach for the identification of Smallpox drug candidates, a medical device
design with many potential uses including for cancer treatment and biodefense,
and a new use of biodefense research for possible cancer treatment. The United
States Army Research Command supported three of the nine patent applications.
Hadron Advanced Biosystems is exploring opportunities to license its technology
to, or seek a joint venture with, a partner to complete the necessary clinical
trials, regulatory approvals, and the development, manufacturing, and marketing
of any future products that might arise from these patents.
Dr. Ken Alibek, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientist of Hadron Advanced
Biosystems, said, "The filing of these patent applications is an important step
for our company. We have successfully completed certain parts of our research
and the results are paving the way for continuing medical investigation into
novel ways to prevent and treat diseases caused by agents potentially used as
biological weapons." Mr. Sterling Phillips, President of Hadron, Inc., stated,
"We commend the experienced team of senior scientists whose leadership has
produced these results in less than two years of research. Hadron intends to
continue to expand its long-term program of developing medical defenses and
treatments for toxic agents used in biological warfare and terrorism."
New Drug Candidates to Treat Anthrax
In the area of developing potential novel methodologies for treating
inhalational Anthrax, Hadron Advanced Biosystems has filed three provisional
patent applications. Two of these applications pertain to treatment of Anthrax
in its later stages, when mortality rates increase to 90%. The first of these
applications covers the invention of a new way to block the action of Protective
Antigen (PA), a component of Anthrax Toxin, thereby protecting target cells
against its toxic effects. This invention could be used for the selection of
drug candidates for Anthrax
MORE ...
HADRON NEWS RELEASE: Nine Patent Applications Filed Page 2
May 21, 2002
treatment. The second late-stage Anthrax-related application covers a new way to
block the mechanism by which Anthrax Lethal Factor (LF) causes its toxic
effects. Included in this blocking system is the use of compounds that protect
cells from LF. Experiments to date have shown the number of Anthrax spores to be
significantly decreased using such compounds. The third patent pending relates
to improved treatment of early stage Anthrax. Hadron Advanced Biosystems has
tested and identified an antibiotic that was found to have greater activity
against Bacillus anthracis than the current preferred antibiotic. This finding
is part of the Company's continuing program of new generation antibiotic
evaluation. The research for these three provisional patent applications was
funded by United States Army Medical Research Command contract "Novel Approaches
for the Treatment of Anthrax." The fourth patent pending, funded by the company,
encompasses relevant factors in the genome of Bacillus anthracis, including five
new hemolytic genes. The proteins these genes code for are called
"anthralysins." Blocking the action of anthralysins could render the Anthrax
cells incapable of establishing productive infection. In addition, the DNA
sequences of these anthralysin genes are potentially useful as probes in the
detection of Bacillus anthracis.
Inhibition of Smallpox Infection by Targeting Helicase Enzymes
Hadron Advanced Biosystems has discovered a novel approach for the
identification of potential drug candidates for the treatment of Smallpox. It
uses assays to detect functional inhibition of enzymes that act on nucleic
acids. Selective inhibition of these enzymes can suppress viral reproduction and
proliferation. These assays are performed on the Vaccinia virus, which is nearly
identical on the selected regions, ensuring that the candidate found will also
be effective against Smallpox.
Drug Development for Treatment of Filovirus Infection
Hemorrhagic fevers resulting from infection by filoviruses, particularly
Ebola and Marburg, have been experimentally tested as biological weapons and
have extremely high fatality rates, with few, if any, treatments available
today. Hadron Advanced Biosystems has applied for a patent that utilizes a
specific domain of an Ebola protein as a new target for the development of
anti-filoviral therapeutics. The application also covers the development of a
drug that could be used as a component of treatment for Ebola, and encompasses
methods of accelerating specific immunoglobulin responses to treat Filovirus
infections.
Device for Potential Biodefense, Cancer & Other Sepsis Treatment
Hadron Advanced Biosystems has developed a design for a system designed to
render ineffective specific factors from the blood of patients. The device can
include specific reagents for the treatment of infectious diseases. It can also
be useful in the treatment of trauma shock, stroke, myocardial infarction, crash
syndrome, burns, and cancer.
MORE ...
HADRON NEWS RELEASE: Nine Patent Applications Filed Page 3
May 21, 2002
Use of Anthrax Lethal Toxin In Potential Cancer Treatment
Hadron Advanced Biosystems has two patent applications pending concerning a
new technique of potential treatment for cancer. This treatment uses a novel
protein to activate immuno-competent cells, which will then ellicit an immune
response against the cancer. The system should enable the body to respond
against tumors and oncogenic cells by priming its own immune system against
cancer. This approach could be used not only as a direct treatment, but also as
an anti-cancer vaccine for those at high risk for the disease.
The senior management and scientific team at Hadron Advanced Biosystems
collectively has more than 50 years of direct experience in biological weapons
research, defense and threat analysis. The Company now has 35 scientists working
on related experiments in its Manassas, Virginia laboratories. The labs are
located within George Mason University's Prince William, Virginia campus. Hadron
Advanced Biosystems' investigations cover a wide variety of biological weapons
threats, including methods of enhancing antibiotic therapies, strengthening the
host immune response, and new methods for battling anthrax sepsis and septic
shock.
HADRON specializes in developing intelligence and biodefense solutions in
support of our Nation's security. Hadron focuses on developing innovative
technical solutions for the intelligence community, analyzing and supporting
defense systems, and developing medical defenses and treatments for toxic agents
used in biological warfare and terrorism. The Company's stock trades on the OTC
Electronic Bulletin Board under the symbol HDRN. HADRON can be found on the
Internet at http://www.hadron.com. HADRON investor relations can be contacted at
---------------------
(703) 329-9400 x311 or via email at agordon@hadron.com.
------------------
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve a number of risks
and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be identified by
reference to a future period by use of forward-looking terminology such as
"anticipate," "expect," "could," "would," "envisioned," "intend," "may" and
other words of a similar nature. There are certain important factors and risks
that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the
statements contained herein. Such factors and risks include business conditions
and growth in the medical research, government contracting and pharmaceutical
arenas, and in the economy in general, as well as scientific and technical risks
associated with research and development activities including whether the U.S.
Patents on the technology will be granted and whether the technology will not
infringe previously patented technology. Competitive factors include the
pressures toward consolidation of small government contracts into larger
contracts awarded to major, multi-national corporations; and the Company's
ability to continue to recruit and retain highly skilled scientific, technical,
managerial and sales/marketing personnel. Other risks may be detailed from time
to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Hadron undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
# # #