For Immediate Release November 19, 2002
AuRx, Inc. - Baltimore

Dr. Joseph Burnett discussed the recently completed one year follow-up data for the Phase I/II clinical trial of the AuRx therapeutic vaccine for treatment of genital herpes at the Eugene Bereston Lecture today.

The AuRx therapeutic vaccine completely prevented all signs and symptoms of recurrent genital herpes in 43.5% of the patients for 12 to 15 months (entire length of follow-up to date). One year data on the high dose arm, where only two shots rather than the three given in the low dose arm, was significant relative to the entire study placebo at P=.025. The therapeutic vaccine was equally effective in both men and women. The number of herpetic episodes in the treated group was reduced 71% from the previous year (P<.001).

The results of the low dose arm of the trial were recently published in Cutis, a dermatological journal. In that study, the publication reported the recurrence rate for episodes of genital herpes was reduced 84% from the previous year (P<.001) and 37.5% of the treated patients had no recurrent episodes (complete prevention of all symptoms) (P=.06). The study achieved statistical significance in all the secondary endpoints, including reduction of illness days and reduction of recurrences. The severity (pain, itching, lesions, vesicle formation, dysuria) and duration of attacks in those patients having episodes was also considerably reduced.

Further patient follow-up and scientific studies of the patients in this trial are envisaged to examine its disease-modifying effects over the long-term. Additional new studies are being planned to confirm these promising findings.

Genital herpes affects over 60 million Americans with 910,000 women and 730,000 men contracting the disease each year. This disease normally results in 6 outbreaks per year but in severe cases more episodes may result. Increasing resistance to the nucleoside analogs currently used to treat genital herpes is being reported. The psychosocial consequences of genital herpes is quite significant as 57% of those infected indicate that herpes interfered with their sexual relationships, 50% felt it was difficult to live with genital herpes and 37% felt that herpes ruined their lives.

The Eugene Sydney Bereston Memorial Lecture is given annually by an invitee of the Maryland Dermatologic Society and is dedicated to an outstanding scientist and physician who studied cutaneous diseases for many years.

or Additional Information Contact:
Gary J. Calton, President AuRx, Inc.
500 J McCormick Drive
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
410.590.7610