EluSys CEO to Testify on Biodefense Before House Subcommittee

Testifying on Behalf of Biotechnology Industry Organization

PINE BROOK, N.J., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen Sudovar, president and CEO of EluSys Therapeutics, Inc., will testify on biodefense response before the House Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations tomorrow. Mr. Sudovar will discuss biowarfare defense research underway at biotechnology companies, including an anthrax antidote being developed by EluSys. Mr. Sudovar will also discuss the financial and strategic support these companies need from the government to expedite their research.

Mr. Sudovar will testify on behalf of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a national organization representing 1,000 domestic and foreign biotechnology companies and institutions.

"Government support of the biotechnology industry's research against biological pathogens is critical to advancing promising technologies that could help our country be better prepared for these sorts of attacks, " Mr. Sudovar said.

Financial and Administrative Support Needed

Mr. Sudovar will review the status of vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral agents that are available or under development for the prevention or treatment of disease caused by biological pathogens, such as anthrax toxin and smallpox.

"It is important to look to wider post-exposure options," he said. Antidotes such as the Heteropolymer system that EluSys is developing would cleanse the blood of the pathogens and toxins that cause the symptoms, disease and death.

In order to advance this research more rapidly, Mr. Sudovar will ask Congress to support these companies with financial and administrative measures.

"Biotechnology companies conducting research to combat biological toxins face many obstacles," noted Michael Werner, BIO's bioethics counsel and director of federal government relations. "They need long-term contracts to support their biodefense research and remain attractive to investors and allow them to continue research on commercial applications as well."

Companies involved in biodefense also need government support for legal, regulatory and security issues. Mr. Sudovar will ask government to provide support on several fronts: protection from liability; support for security measures, and adoption by the Food and Drug Administration of measures that would streamline the approval process for these drugs.

"Fear of liability, for example, has prevented many companies from even considering the development of vaccines," added Mr. Werner.

EluSys: Research into Anthrax Antidote

The unique Heteropolymer (HP) System that EluSys is developing uses two monoclonal antibodies chemically joined together, like biological double-sided tape. One antibody sticks to the target to be removed (such as the anthrax toxin); the other binds to a receptor found on human red blood cells. The red blood cells then carry the pathogen to the liver for destruction and return unharmed to the normal blood circulation. This whole process happens within minutes.

Unlike vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral agents, the HP System can be engineered to be active against anything that circulates in the bloodstream -- bacteria, toxins and viruses. Antibiotics are active only against bacteria; antivirals are active only against viruses. Antibiotics are not effective against anthrax, for example, once the bacteria have released toxin into the bloodstream.

The EluSys HP System has the potential to fill a critical unmet need, in the case of anthrax. Since it works against the toxin, it may buy the crucial time to allow for later-stage antibiotic treatment.

"For the general public, we need more post-exposure options. It is not feasible or practical to vaccinate the entire population against anthrax or other pathogens," commented Mr. Sudovar. "There are side effects to these vaccines and the benefits probably would not outweigh the costs or risks."

The HP System: A "Revolutionary Strategy"

Last year, EluSys signed a research agreement with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) to develop treatments for anthrax and other potential biowarfare agents. USAMRIID is the lead medical laboratory for the U.S. Army Biological Defense Research Program, and plays a key role in national defense and in infectious disease research. The collaboration involves sharing USAMRIID's scientific models for biological pathogens and toxins and EluSys' unique HP technology; the CRADA does not involve financial support.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency granted the HP System its Award for Significant Technical Achievement, calling it "revolutionary" and "an entirely new and exceptionally powerful medical strategy for treatment of biological warfare agent exposure and ... other life-threatening infections."

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

About EluSys

EluSys Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for a variety of blood-borne diseases. Founded in 1998, EluSys is headquartered in Pine Brook, NJ. Additional information about EluSys, the HP technology and senior management can be found at http://www.EluSys.com.

About the Hearing

The hearing will be in Room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2001. The House Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations is chaired by Christopher Shays (R-CT). Mr. Sudovar's complete testimony will be available at the hearing, from the contacts above, and on http://www.elusys.com.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001