PRESS RELEASE October 11, 2002 - AuRx, Inc., ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OF THE CLINICAL EVALUATION OF ITS THERAPEUTIC VACCINE FOR GENITAL HERPES.

FOR RELEASE October 11, 2002

BALTIMORE, MD - The Mexican clinical team evaluating the AuRx therapeutic vaccine for genital herpes has published the initial results of a safety evaluation for the lowest dose in a Phase I/II trial for treatment of genital herpes in the October issue of Cutis. There were no treatment related adverse events in the trial and the side effects were similar to that of a sugar pill. Dr. Gerardo Casanova, the lead investigator said, "Of most importance, is that we now potentially have available a therapeutic vaccine that will avoid many complications for the patients, and in particular the serious perinatal risks."

In the first finding of its kind in the history of the treatment of genital herpes, the AuRx therapeutic vaccine reduced the number of episodes three fold (P<.001) versus the previous year. In addition, recurrent HSV-2 episodes were completely prevented in 37.5% of vaccinated patients as opposed to the patients given placebo, all of whom had episodes during the trial period. These patients had previously had 5-24 outbreaks per year. In statistically significant results, vaccinated patients had 50% fewer recurrences and 45% fewer illness days (P=.028) than the placebo. A reduced severity of the herpetic episodes in vaccinated patients was observed as lesions were 4.8 times more prevalent in untreated patients, pain was 2.9 times more prevalent in untreated patients and itching was 3.7 times more prevalent in untreated patients.

The trial continues by tracking for clinical outbreaks over a two year period. AuRx plans to run additional studies in larger groups with higher dose levels and additional vaccinations. In guinea pigs which were first infected with genital herpes and then given the same dose schedule used in the human clinical trial, 70% of the animals had no recurrences. Higher doses and a different dose schedule in animals resulted in over 90% prevention of recurrences.

Over 50 million Americans are infected with genital herpes. The incidence of genital herpes is rapidly increasing world wide and is projected to affect 49% of women and 39% of men aged 15 to 39 in the US by 2025. At present there is no convenient method to prevent recurrences of these painful lesions which are often transmitted to sexual partners. Treatment of herpes with currently available drugs only slightly reduces the time the patient has lesions. It also requires reliably taking medication on a daily basis since failure to do so usually results in an episode. Over the last three decades, pharmaceutical companies have failed in their attempts to develop a herpes vaccine as none have achieved statistical significance in trials nor have any shown therapeutic effects.

AuRx, Inc., is a privately held company developing methods for treatment of recurrent and long lasting viral disease.