CHICAGO, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Life
Sciences Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ADLS), a
biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and
commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of
infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced that
the company provided testimony at the U.S. Senate Committee on
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services
(HHS) Hearing on "Defending Against Public Health Threats" on
September 29, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
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Advanced Life Sciences chairman and chief executive officer,
Michael T. Flavin, Ph.D., commented
on the critical need to invest in the development of late-stage
medical countermeasures that can defend against public health
threats, such as emerging infectious diseases as well as
bioterrorism. He commended the efforts of HHS to support
development of medical countermeasures to combat public health
threats, and urged the department to balance its portfolio by
including late-stage products nearing FDA approval which can be
efficiently and cost effectively studied and which, if approved,
could rapidly be made available to protect the public.
"Advanced Life Sciences has responded to the critical threat of
bioterrorism by developing its novel antibiotic, Restanza™, to
protect against infection from inhaled anthrax, plague and
tularemia," said Dr. Flavin. "Consistent with the priorities
articulated by HHS, our company is committed to advancing Restanza
through the final stage of clinical testing with the goal of
gaining FDA approval and providing a safe and effective new
countermeasure against lethal pathogens. We intend to continue to
explore opportunities to work collaboratively with the US
government to protect the public health."
Secretary of HHS Kathleen
Sebelius testified at the hearing that "In today's world,
the range of threats is ever-widening to include biological,
chemical, nuclear, and radiological hazards in addition to
conventional threats." Secretary Sebelius went on to say that "the
greatest danger we may face is a microbe that we may have never
seen before and for which we do not have a countermeasure. We
clearly need the capacity to develop a medical countermeasure
quickly." Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Committee,
added that the US Government "needs a stronger partnership with
biotech companies that could produce next-generation
countermeasures."
A link to the video archive of today's hearing can be found at
the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,
Health and Human Services website at:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/webcasts.cfm?method=webcasts.view&id=5d471f5d-a28d-42a7-95ea-fd0e567d817c
About Restanza
In advanced animal models, Restanza has demonstrated significant
protection post-exposure against anthrax, plague and tularemia.
Restanza has also conducted Phase 3 clinical testing to treat
community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). The FDA has
designated Restanza as an orphan drug for the post-exposure
prophylactic treatment of inhalation anthrax, plague and tularemia,
but the FDA has not yet approved the drug for marketing in this or
any other indication.
About Advanced Life Sciences
Advanced Life Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in
the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in
the therapeutic areas of infection, cancer and respiratory
diseases. The Company's lead candidate, Restanza, is a novel
once-a-day oral antibiotic in late-stage development for the
treatment of respiratory tract infections including CABP and
biodefense pathogens including anthrax, plague and tularemia. For
more information, please visit us on the web at
www.advancedlifesciences.com or follow us on twitter at
http://twitter.com/advancedlifesci.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that relate to
future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our
management's judgment regarding future events. The Company
does not undertake any obligations to update any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Our actual results could differ materially from
those discussed herein due to several factors including the success
and timing of our clinical trials and our ability to obtain and
maintain regulatory approval and labeling of our product
candidates; our plans to develop and commercialize our product
candidates; the loss of key scientific or management personnel; the
size and growth of potential markets for our product candidates and
our ability to serve those markets; regulatory developments in the
U.S. and foreign countries; the rate and degree of market
acceptance of any future products; the accuracy of our estimates
regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; our
ability to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us; our ability
to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our
product candidates; the successful development of our sales and
marketing capabilities; the success of competing drugs that become
available; and the performance of third party collaborators and
manufacturers. These and additional risks and uncertainties
are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc.
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