Press Release
Source: Viral Genetics, Inc.

Viral Genetics, Inc. Appoints C. Everett Koop as Special Advisor to Board of Directors.

Biotech Company Secures Support of Previous U.S. Surgeon General and Long-Time Advocate of AIDS Research, New Methods of Treatment

AZUSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aug 06, 2008 -- Viral Genetics, Inc. (Other OTC:VRAL - News), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies, announced today it has appointed former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, as special advisor to its board of directors. A long-time advocate for public health and AIDS research to spearhead advancements in treatment, Dr. Koop (retired) will advise the board on company decisions surrounding future research and development of immune-based therapies for HIV/AIDS.

"In our lifetime, there has been no more recognizable United States Surgeon General than C. Everett Koop. His name and image are synonymous with leadership and integrity in the medical community. For decades, he has been instrumental in promoting the acceleration of HIV/AIDS research to uncover new therapies. We are honored that he has committed to serve as special advisor to our board,” said Haig Keledjian, co-founder and CEO of Viral Genetics, Inc.

“I look forward to joining the innovative efforts of Viral Genetics and its novel approach of immune-based therapies for the global health problems associated with HIV and AIDS,” said Dr. Koop.

Charles Everett Koop was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 14, 1916. He obtained his B.A. degree from Dartmouth College in 1937 and his M.D. degree from Cornell Medical School in 1941. After interning at the Pennsylvania Hospital, Dr. Koop pursued postgraduate training at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Graduate School of Medicine at U. of Pennsylvania, where he obtained a D.Sc. Degree in 1947.

At U. of Penn., Dr. Koop was appointed professor of pediatric surgery in 1959 and then also received a professorship in the department of pediatrics. From 1948 to 1981, Dr. Koop was also Surgeon-in-Chief at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he was a pioneer in pediatric surgery. He structured an internationally renowned department that established the first neonatal intensive care nursery and was a founder of the American Academy of Pediatric Surgeons.

In February 1981, President Reagan appointed Dr. Koop as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health. On January 1982, when he was sworn in by the Senate as U.S. Surgeon General, AIDS was a deadly enigma. At the direct request of President Reagan in 1986, Dr. Koop prepared the first national report on AIDS. This explicit, nonjudgmental and monumental document contributed significantly to providing the first accurate and comprehensive information on AIDS. In 1988, Dr. Koop wrote "Understanding AIDS," a Public Heath Service brochure based on CDC guidelines, which was sent to all 107 million households in the U.S. It was the largest mailing ever by the federal government.

“Dr. Koop’s treatment of HIV / AIDS as a public health issue rather than a moral issue was a major breakthrough. The report and mailing educated the public on the magnitude of the epidemic, which garnered support for new research and methods of treatment,” said Monica Ord, SVP of corporate development and communications for Viral Genetics, Inc.

In October 1989, he resigned from office, but his highly regarded leadership on public health topics such as tobacco, organ transplantation, AIDS and the rights of the disabled left the Office of Surgeon General more esteemed than ever before. He has relentlessly continued to educate the public about health issues through his many writings and media appearances. Dr. Koop now serves as Senior Scholar of the C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth Medical School and is a member of the governing boards of several nationally recognized health-related organizations.

About Viral Genetics

Viral Genetics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS using its thymus nuclear protein compound (TNP). The company recently entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with the University of Colorado and V-Clip Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of the Company) to license technology developed by M. Karen Newell, PhD that appears to explain TNP and provide a means to optimize therapies based on TNP for future clinical trials. TNP may have other potential applications for other infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency diseases that the company intends to study in the future. Viral Genetics believes that its investigational HIV/AIDS drug based on TNP, called VGV-1, represents a unique approach to treating HIV due to the apparently novel mechanism, low toxicity profile, simple dosing regimen, and short-course of treatment. As a type of immune-based therapy, it focuses on modulating the immune system to allow the body to fight HIV more efficiently. VGV-1 has been studied in five human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV / AIDS. Online at www.viralgenetics.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. VGV-1 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of VGV-1 in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of VGV-1 in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.

Contact:
For additional information, please contact:
Viral Genetics
Haig Keledjian, CEO, 626-334-5310

Source: Viral Genetics, Inc.

Click here to return to our Press Release selection page.

Press Releases

Media Kits

Media Inquiries

News Subscription Service