Bioniche granted additional patent for mycobacterial cell wall technology

May 18 2005

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven human and animal health biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has had a new patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on its core mycobacterial cell wall technology.

The new patent relates to the Company's proprietary composition, Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC), which has been shown to possess immunomodulatory, vaccine adjuvant, and chemotherapeutic activities. The new patent is:

"Method for the treatment of inflammation" (US 6,890,911), inventors - Nigel C. Phillips and Mario C. Filion.

"This patent provides protection for the use of mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complexes as anti-inflammatory agents," noted Dr. Nigel C. Phillips, Chief Scientific Officer at Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. and patent co- inventor. "The application fields for this aspect of our core mycobacterial cell wall technology are the treatment of inflammation in general, as well specific uses in immune-mediated inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, colitis, and cystitis. This technology platform already comprises the use of mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complexes as immunomodulators, vaccine adjuvants, anticancer therapeutic agents, and complements other technology platforms within the Company that are either commercialized or under development."

Dr. Mario C. Filion, Head of Biomedical Research at Bioniche Life Sciences and patent co-inventor added, "This U.S. patent will provide us protection for the use of mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complexes for reducing inflammation in both animals and humans."

Graeme McRae, President & CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., stated, "We continue to discover and safeguard versatile applications for our MCC technology. The extensive intellectual property portfolio on MCC enables us to capitalize on multiple market opportunities and provide greater potential return on our research and development investment."