SAN MARINO, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biotechnology company Viral Genetics (Pink Sheets: VRAL) has entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Colorado to develop cancer therapies based on the work of M. Karen Newell, Ph. D., a professor of biology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This new line of research into a means of killing drug-resistant cancer cells will be pursued by scientists at MetaCytolytics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Viral Genetics.

Newell has discovered a process called "metabolic disruption technology" (MDT) that blocks invasive cells' ability to generate energy from sugars or fatty acids. In essence, MDT "starves" cancer cells, causing them to die. As proof of principle, Newell's team at the University of Colorado has performed over 400 metabolic disruption technology experiments in vitro and in animal models.

"The team at Viral Genetics has the knowledge and experience to develop these technologies into products that may ultimately change the way we understand and develop drugs and processes for a variety of human related applications," said David Allen, CU associate vice president for technology transfer. The licensed intellectual property portfolio includes related technology developed by Newell at the University of Vermont.

"This agreement enables us to pursue new lines of research with Dr. Newell," said Viral Genetics CEO Haig Keledjian. "Her latest discoveries have tremendous potential to help patients with drug-resistant tumors, the leading cause of death due to cancer."

According to Newell, MDT is expected to be combined with traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Newell believes that the same process may also be used to create more effective bio-fuels by increasing polyunsaturated fats in plant cells.

About the Technology Transfer Office and the University of Colorado

The CU Technology Transfer Office (TTO) pursues, protects, packages, and licenses to business the intellectual property generated from research at CU. The TTO provides assistance to faculty, staff, and students, as well as to businesses looking to license or invest in CU technology. For more information about technology transfer at CU, visit www.cu.edu/techtransfer.

The University of Colorado is a premier teaching and research university with four campuses: the University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. More than 55,000 undergraduate and graduate students are pursuing academic degrees on CU campuses. CU is ranked seventh among public institutions in federal research expenditures in engineering and science by the National Science Foundation. Academic prestige is marked by the university's four Nobel laureates, seven MacArthur "genius" Fellows, 18 alumni astronauts and 19 Rhodes Scholars. For more information, go to www.cu.edu.

About Viral Genetics, Inc.

Headquartered in San Marino, Calif., Viral Genetics discovers and develops drug therapies to treat infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency disorders using its thymus nuclear protein compound (TNP). The company has an exclusive license agreement with the University of Colorado and V-Clip Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of the company) to license technology developed that appears to explain TNP and provide a means to optimize therapies based on TNP for future clinical trials. Viral Genetics has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, MetaCytoLytics, Inc., to advance a technology developed by University of Colorado Professor M. Karen Newell called "metabolic disruption technology" (MDT), which focuses on blocking a tumor cell's ability to generate energy from glucose or from fatty acids. Online at www.viralgenetics.com.

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. VGV-1 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of VGV-1 in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of VGV-1 in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.

CONTACT: Haig Keledjian of Viral Genetics, +1-626-324-5310

SOURCE Viral Genetics, Inc.

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.viralgenetics.com
http://www.cu.edu