MONTREAL, Feb. 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Viropro Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Viropro Inc. (OTCBB:VPRO), is pleased to announce that it has signed a scientific research agreement with the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier research centre for the development and continuous improvement of detection tests related to the B19 virus (parvovirus).
Importantly, this research project will actively involve two world-recognized scientists, Dr. Max Arella and Dr. Peter Tijssen, both members of L'Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS). These two professors/researchers bring highly specialized know-how and the scientific expertise necessary to lead the project through development, validation and clinical trials with the objective of vastly improving the detection of this virus and, by extension, other viral diseases in humans.
Parvovirus, or fifth disease, is an infectious illness, caused by the virus B19. Known generally as a childhood disease, the virus causes an eruptive infection and is contagious through the airways. It can also affect adults who have a compromised immune system, in certain cases evolving to polyarthropathy syndrome, spontaneous abortion, fetalis hydrops and chronical anemia.
"The continuous development of this type of detection technology will greatly help our company in developing new markets and identifying new business partners in Third World countries where this virus is broadly disseminated across large populations," stated Dr. Patrick Barnabe, President of Viropro Pharma Inc.
The INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier research centre is renowned both locally and internationally for its biomedical expertise and represents a vital crossroad for health-related research in Quebec. Members of the Centre's team have exceptional, even unique, analytical capabilities in the fields of chemistry, microbiology and immunology, genomics and proteomics as well as molecular and cellular biology. The Institute, which has approximately fifty faculty members, plays a vital role in research, training and technology transfers in the areas of human, animal and environmental health.
About Viropro Inc.
Viropro, Inc. (OTCBB:VPRO) is establishing a growth portfolio in Life Sciences markets through strategic alliances and revenue-producing acquisitions with the potential for continued shareholder value.
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