Clinical Trial at Saint Michael’s Medical Center Targets Hepatitis C/HIV Co-infection

NEWARK, N.J. (August 10, 2007) –– Stephen M. Smith, M.D., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and director of the Peter Ho Memorial Clinic at Saint Michael’s Medical Center — the largest HIV/AIDS treatment facility in New Jersey — has announced that he will be working with Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to conduct a phase-one clinical trial of a medication intended to treat patients co-infected with hepatitis C and HIV. This is the only clinical trial of this medication being conducted in the state.

“This is an exciting time in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-infected patients,” said Dr. Smith, who is nationally recognized for his research on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. “We are starting to target host proteins in treating infectious diseases. Host proteins are made by the body and do not mutate or become resistant to drug treatment, as is common with viral infections. Bavituximab works to assist the body in ridding itself of viruses.”

“This is an important study for the bavituximab HCV (hepatitis C virus) clinical program and is designed to evaluate an extended treatment schedule in an important HCV patient population,” said Steven W. King, president and CEO of Tustin, California-based Peregrine.

The co-infection trial is an open-label, dose escalation safety study designed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of bavituximab in approximately 24 patients chronically infected with HCV and HIV. In the United States alone, an estimated 300,000 people are co-infected with HIV and HCV, representing up to 30 percent of all HIV-infected patients. Co-infected patients have been shown to have a lower response to current interferon/ribavirin HCV regimens, and the adverse effects of these regimens can be problematic for some HIV patients. More information about Peregrine Pharmaceuticals is available online at www.peregrineinc.com.

“Once again, Dr. Stephen Smith is at the forefront of clinical research in efforts to improve the treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS and those who are co-infected,” said Felicia Karsos, the hospital’s administrator.

Saint Michael’s Medical Center, a 337-bed regional primary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark’s main business and educational district, is an affiliate of Cathedral Healthcare System, a nonprofit, multi-hospital system that also comprises Saint James Hospital and Columbus Hospital in Newark. All are affiliated with Catholic Health and Human Services Corporation and support the mission of the Archdiocese of Newark. More information is available online at www.cathedralhealth.org.