Hemispherx Biopharma to conduct study of Ampligen antiviral in China

As part of its expanding international program Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex:HEB), (the "Company"), announced an agreement with Fountain Medical Development Ltd., a leading Chinese clinical research organization (CRO) to prepare, file and gain approval from the authorities in China to conduct a study of Ampligen, an investigational therapeutic. Ampligen^® is a member of a new class of antivirals/ immuno-potentiators with broad spectrum therapeutic properties. Hemispherx plans to investigate the experimental therapeutic for potential treatment of seriously ill hospitalized flu patients, many with underlying respiratory conditions.  The proposed study will determine the extent to which their clinical parameters return to normal more rapidly with potential shortening of their hospital stay relative to patients treated only with placebo plus the existing "standards of care".  Hemispherx has engaged Fountain with a plan to initiate this study during next year's flu season in various parts of China.

Influenza is a serious world wide health threat producing significant debilitation and death rates in individuals with compromised pulmonary functions and/ or immuno-compromised conditions.

According to a recent Tufts University New Release (April 15, 2010) reporting on U.S. flu activity across the nation, 10.5% of the 9.7 million hospitalizations in elderly patients that occur annually were due to pneumonia and influenza.  The researchers studied intensity of flu by extracting information from 248,889 Medicare and Medicaid hospitalization records from 1991 through 2004.

This agreement with Fountain Medical Group follows last month's entering a definitive contract with Max Neeman, a major India-based CRO, to conduct similar trials in India using Alferon N in severely ill patient populations.