Contact Information: CONTACTS: Dr. Tony Milici CEO GeneThera, Inc. 303-463-6371 Geoff High Principal Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc. 303-393-7044
GeneThera Announces Plans to Add Therapeutic Testing Component to Johne's Disease Diagnostic Program
| Source: GeneThera
ARVADA, CO--(Marketwire - August 25, 2009) - GeneThera, Inc. (PINKSHEETS : GTHR ), an
international biotechnology company, today announced a major expansion of
its previously reported efforts to commercialize a diagnostic platform for
Johne's disease, an infectious, fatal and as yet incurable bacterial
disease that affects the intestinal tract in livestock. The Company said
it is preparing to enter into a formal license agreement with two Italian
universities, Universita di Roma "Tor Vergata" (UNIROMA 2) and Universita
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), which have jointly developed a potential
therapeutic solution for the disease. As previously announced, GeneThera
also is working in collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
Mexico (UNAM) on a diagnostic test for the disease.
Dr. Tony Milici, founder and CEO of GeneThera, said, "Newly developed
liposomes have been tested by two leading Italian universities and have
revealed potentially promising therapeutic benefits in the treatment of
Johne's disease. Our objective is to study the immunotherapeutic value of
these liposomes in cattle that test positive for the disease through our
upcoming diagnostic testing program."
Dr. Milici added, "The successful development of both a diagnostic and
therapeutic solution to Johne's would be of major benefit to the global
dairy and livestock industries, both of which have experienced extensive
financial losses due to this disease. Our ability to commercialize these
platforms would be a milestone achievement for GeneThera, our industry and
academic partners, as well as our shareholders."
GeneThera has been preparing to lead a major testing effort of a new
Johne's disease diagnostic platform in Monterrey, Mexico. The Company has
reached an agreement with Roche Diagnostics, which will provide specialized
robotic equipment and real-time thermo cyclers that will serve as the
molecular diagnostic platform for the testing. GeneThera also has entered
into an agreement with UNAM, which will support GeneThera's diagnostic
testing programs in part by providing access to livestock.
"The expansion of our diagnostic testing to include a potential therapeutic
solution has obviously slowed our previously announced developmental
timelines," Dr. Milici said. "However, we believe the potential benefits
of introducing a comprehensive solution for both the identification and
treatment of Johne's disease will more than justify these delays." Dr.
Milici said the Company hopes to announce a final licensing agreement with
the two Italian universities in the next six to eight weeks.
About GeneThera, Inc.
GeneThera, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the development of
molecular assays. The Company is currently in the process of developing
therapeutic vaccines for the detection and prevention of food contaminating
pathogens, veterinary diseases, and diseases affecting human health. More
information about the Company can be found at: http://www.genethera.net.
About Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.
Pfeiffer High is a full-service investor relations firm based in Denver.
Since 1982 it has been helping public companies maximize shareholder value
by implementing comprehensive investor relations programs that raise
awareness among buy- and sell-side analysts, institutional portfolio
managers, brokers, individual investors and the financial media.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements and information included in this press release
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements
regarding our entrance into a formal license agreement with two Italian
universities; the potentially promising therapeutic benefits of certain
liposomes in the treatment of Johne's disease; the likelihood that our
diagnostic testing program will be successful; the benefits, if any, of our
testing programs to the global dairy and livestock industries; and the
likelihood that the Company will announce a final licensing agreement with
the two Italian universities in the next six to eight weeks.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future
periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to,
our ability to raise capital, our ability to execute our business strategy
in a very competitive environment, our degree of financial leverage, risks
relating to rapidly developing technology, regulatory considerations, risks
related to international economies, risks related to market acceptance and
demand for our products and services, the impact of competitive services
and pricing, and other risks referenced from time to time in our SEC
filings. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to us, or anyone acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified
in their entirety by these cautionary statements. We do not undertake any
obligations to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press
release or to reflect unanticipated events that may occur.