VIRAL GENETICS PROCEEDS WITH PHASE III VGV TRIAL

Viral Genetics, a drug development company developing a biologic therapy for HIV infection, announced that the eight-week, 16-injection treatment phase of its ongoing South African study is completed for all enrolled patients.

The Phase III study of VGV-1 is examining Stage CDC-2 (the stage before full-blown AIDS) HIV-infected patients treated with VGV-1. This seven-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 137 patients is designed to monitor the safety, efficacy and immunological function of VGV-1. An interim safety analysis will be conducted in August as originally scheduled, and the follow-up phase will conclude in late 2005 with results expected in early 2006.