Oxygen Biotherapeutics receives U.S. Army grant for studies of Oxycyte

Mar 2 2011

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ and SIX Swiss Exchange: OXBT) today announced it has received a $2,075 million two-year grant from the U.S. Army to study the Company’s proprietary Oxycyte^® PFC emulsion as a therapeutic intervention focused on reducing brain damage in victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The preclinical studies supported by this grant will examine the effects of Oxycyte on the immune system, platelet function and distribution, as well as the safety and efficacy of platelet transfusion, which can be necessary for patients with TBI and related polytrauma. Additionally studies will be conducted to further evaluate the pharmacokinetics of PFC in relevant species to aid in data interpretation. These studies will help determine the safety profile of Oxycyte. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions, as a therapeutic class, are known to interact with the reticuloendothelial system as part of the clearance mechanism, as well as affect the number of circulating platelets.

“Hemostasis and immunocompetence are critically important in severe TBI patients.” The studies supported by this Army grant will augment our data and knowledge of the safety and efficacy of perfluorocarbon emulsions,” said Gerald L. Klein, MD, Principal Investigator and Chief Medical Officer of Oxygen Biotherapeutics. “We believe Oxycyte PFC emulsion may have the potential to help reduce the effects of traumatic brain injury rather than merely improve stabilization following the traumatic occurrence.”

Added Oxygen Biotherapeutics’ Chairman and CEO Chris Stern: “We are proud to work with the U.S. Army to develop new treatments that will benefit our soldiers, as well as civilians. We believe this research grant will give us the important information we need to move Oxycyte down the clinical development path.”

TBI Incidence

According to the Department of Defense Personnel and Procurement Statistics, 75% of all U.S. military casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are caused by explosive weaponry, resulting in TBIs and blast-induced neurotrauma, which have been called the “signature wounds” of these wars. They estimate that TBI accounts for about 22 percent of all casualties. In a January 2006 report, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 1.4 million U.S. civilians sustain TBI each year. Of them, about 50,000 die, 235,000 are

hospitalized and 1.1 million are treated and released from an Emergency Department. An estimated 80,000-90,000 people with TBI experience permanent disability from their injury. These incidence rates have led the CDC to conclude that TBI prevention, improved acute care and rehabilitation to reduce the likelihood of TBI-related disability, and increased access to services for those who do not fully recover must continue to be a national priorities.

What is Oxycyte^® PFC Emulsion?

Oxycyte is an emulsion of a proprietary PFC-based oxygen carrier. The physical properties of PFCs enable Oxycyte to gather oxygen from the lungs and transport the oxygen through the body releasing it along the way. Over a period of days following administration, Oxycyte is gradually cleared from the body through the lungs in the course of respiration. Oxycyte requires no cross matching, so it is immediately available and compatible with all patients' blood types. It is provided to our clinical researchers as a sterile emulsion ready for intravenous administration. Because it contains no biological components, there is no risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses from human blood products.

About Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. is developing medical and cosmetic products that efficiently deliver oxygen to tissues in the body. The Company has developed a proprietary perfluorocarbon (PFC) therapeutic oxygen carrier called Oxycyte® that is being formulated for both intravenous and topical delivery for conditions including but not limited to traumatic brain injury, decompression sickness and topical wounds. More information is available at www.oxybiomed.com, or www.dermacyteUS.com.