SAN DIEGO, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AEMD) today disclosed that researchers have initiated testing of its Hemopurifier as a candidate treatment against the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus. The Hemopurifier is the first-in-class medical device to selectively adsorb viruses and immunosuppressive toxins from the bloodstream. The device has been designed to enhance the benefit of antiviral drug regimens, and it provides a therapeutic option against infectious viruses not addressed by drug and vaccine therapies. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090325/LA88762LOGO-b) The studies, which are testing the effectiveness of the Hemopurifier to capture the H1N1 virus, are being conducted at laboratories approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to house and conduct research on pandemic strains of H1N1 virus. The Hemopurifier has previously proven effective in capturing the reconstructed Spanish flu of 1918 virus (1918rv) and the H5N1 avian influenza virus (Bird Flu). The Hemopurifier represents a promising strategy to clear infectious H1N1 swine flu from the bloodstream as the device selectively captures influenza viruses by hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins that coat the virus, even when influenza mutates to be resistant against drug and vaccine therapies. The World Health Organization (WHO) now projects that two billion people, or one third of the world's population, will become infected by the virus before the end of the pandemic. Last week, WHO also reported that 1,154 swine flu victims have died since the virus emerged in April, including 338 deaths reported in the prior week alone. Additionally, six patients have recently been identified with viral strains resistant to treatment with Tamiflu, the stockpiled antiviral treatment for pandemic forms of influenza. "Beyond surging death tolls and reports of drug resistance, the potential for the swine flu virus to mutate into a virulent and lethal form seems increasingly possible over the course of the two billion infections projected by WHO," stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce. "While our primary focus remains the treatment of Hepatitis-C virus (HCV), it is now appropriate and important that we take advantage of the opportunity to validate the capability of our Hemopurifier against infectious H1N1 Swine flu virus," concluded Joyce. Since the beginning of 2009, the Hemopurifier has been demonstrated safe and effective in reducing patient viral load in both Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections. As a result, Aethlon believes the Hemopurifier is the first therapeutic candidate to demonstrate viral reduction benefit against two different viral species in human studies. Such data further reinforces the position of the Hemopurifier as a leading broad-spectrum countermeasure against drug and vaccine resistant viruses. Should H1N1 Swine Flu evolve to be highly virulent and resistant to treatment stockpiles, the Hemopurifier is positioned to become a first-line treatment countermeasure to strengthen the clinical benefit of both established and candidate drug treatments. About Aethlon Medical Aethlon Medical creates diagnostic and therapeutic device solutions for infectious disease and cancer. Our Hemopurifier represents the first-in-class medical device to selectively adsorb viruses and immunosuppressive toxins from the bloodstream. The Hemopurifier seeks to improve Hepatitis-C treatment outcomes and serves as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against bioterror and pandemic threats. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical can be accessed online at http://www.aethlonmedical.com/. Contacts: Jon Cunningham RedChip Companies Inc. (407) 644-4256 (407) 491-4498 -cell http://www.redchip.com/ Jim Joyce Chairman, CEO 858.459.7800 x301 Jim Frakes Senior VP Finance 858.459.7800 x300 Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the capability of the Hemopurifier to reduce viral loads and other disease conditions, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090325/LA88762LOGO-b http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aethlon Medical, Inc. CONTACT: Jon Cunningham of RedChip Companies Inc., +1-407-644-4256, cell, +1-407-491-4498, , for Aethlon Medical, Inc.; or Jim Joyce, Chairman, CEO, +1-858-459-7800, ext. 301, , or Jim Frakes, Senior VP Finance, +1-858-459-7800, ext. 300, , both of Aethlon Medical, Inc. Web Site: http://www.aethlonmedical.com/

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