Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Recognizes World Hemophilia Day - April 17 - and the Inspiring Voices within the Hemophilia Community

LAGUNA-NIGEL, Calif., April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Inspiration) is proud to sponsor programs of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) in recognition of World Hemophilia Day, taking place on April 17, 2011.  Promoting the message – "Be Inspired, Get Involved" – the website of the WFH is featuring a public forum on which individuals with hemophilia can share their personal, inspiring stories http://www.wfh.org/whd/en/.  Visitors to the site also can find a link to Inspiration-sponsored videos of individuals with hemophilia, or who have family members with hemophilia; the videos also can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/user/InspirationBio.

Founded by two families with sons who have hemophilia, Inspiration is the only company exclusively focused on developing new treatments for hemophilia.  "At Inspiration, we are inspired by the strength and spirit of the hemophilia community, and we hope to inspire others as we advance new treatments, never accepting anything less than extraordinary achievement," commented Michael Griffith, Ph.D., President and CEO of Inspiration.  "Our participation in World Hemophilia Day is one component of a broader program to reach out to all members of the community.  Ultimately, the Company's mission can be summed up briefly – To broaden access to care for people with hemophilia and improve the treatment of individuals with inhibitor complications."

In approximately one-third of individuals with hemophilia, the immune system develops antibodies that block the function of (inhibit) proteins found in standard hemophilia therapies, making treatment ineffective.  New therapies are needed.

Inspiration's Late-Stage Clinical Programs to Report Data Later This Year

Recently, the Company announced results from its ongoing clinical study of IB1001, an intravenous (IV) recombinant factor IX (FIX) for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in adults and adolescents with hemophilia B.  The PK phase of the study demonstrated IB1001 achieves overall levels of FIX replacement similar to BeneFIX®, the only marketed recombinant FIX currently available to patients.  Additional data from Inspiration's IB1001 late-stage clinical program are expected later in 2011.

In addition, in the fourth quarter of last year, OBI-1, an IV porcine recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) for the treatment of bleeding in individuals with inhibitors against their FVIII, entered late-stage clinical testing in individuals with acquired hemophilia A, a rare, potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder, which, unlike congenital hemophilia, typically affects older adults and occurs equally in both males and females.  By the end of the year, Inspiration plans to initiate a late-stage trial in individuals with congenital hemophilia A who have developed inhibitors against their FVIII therapy.  OBI-1 presents a unique and alternative approach to address the needs of individuals who have developed inhibitors to their FVIII and has been greeted with enthusiasm by the medical community.

For more information about enrolling in one of Inspiration's clinical trials, please visit http://www.hemophiliaregistry.com or call 1-800-361-3227.  For more information on the ongoing studies, please visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder caused by low levels or absence of a protein called a coagulation factor, essential for blood clotting.  The two most common forms of hemophilia are types A and B.  Hemophilia A is caused by a factor VIII deficiency and the congenital form occurs in ~1 out of every 5,000 male births.  Hemophilia B is caused by factor IX deficiency and occurs in ~1 out of every 30,000 male births.  Approximately 60% of individuals with hemophilia have a severe condition, which results in frequent spontaneous bleeding episodes, in addition to serious bleeding after injuries.

About Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals is dedicated exclusively to developing treatments for hemophilia, with a primary mission to broaden access to care, including prophylactic therapy, and to improve the treatment of individuals with inhibitor complications.  Inspiration has a broad portfolio of recombinant hemophilia products, which includes two late-stage products in clinical development and two preclinical programs.

Inspiration's lead product candidates are IB1001, an intravenous recombinant factor IX (FIX) for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in individuals with hemophilia B, and OBI-1, an intravenous recombinant porcine factor VIII (FVIII) for the treatment of individuals who have developed inhibitors against human FVIII and for individuals with acquired hemophilia A.  Both products are in clinical development.  Earlier-stage preclinical programs at Inspiration are focused on human recombinant factor VIIa (FVIIa), for individuals with either hemophilia A or hemophilia B who have developed inhibitors, and for individuals with factor VII deficiency; and human recombinant FVIII, to treat individuals with hemophilia A.

Inspiration has extensive expertise and experience in hemophilia product development, biologics manufacturing, regulatory approval and global commercialization. The Company's senior leadership was directly responsible for the development and commercialization of the majority of hemophilia products currently on the market.  In addition, in January 2010, Inspiration entered into a strategic partnership with Ipsen SA, leveraging the combined expertise and resources of the two companies.  For further information on Inspiration, please visit http://www.inspirationbio.com.

SOURCE Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.