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German and U.S. Researchers Show TB4’s Cardioprotective Effects in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

German and U.S. Researchers Show TB4’s Cardioprotective Effects in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Porcine Data Presented at American Heart Association Meeting

November 5, 2007 — Bethesda, Md

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: RGN) (www.regenerx.com) announced that this afternoon at an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida, an independent international team of medical researchers presented new data showing that administration of thymosin beta 4 (TB4) significantly decreased heart damage after cardiac ischemia and reperfusion in pigs. In this study, the animals underwent LAD occlusion (blockage of coronary artery) for 60 minutes to simulate a heart attack and were then reperfused (opening of coronary artery) to simulate the standard of care for heart attack patients. TB4 or placebo was then infused directly into the damaged area. TB4 significantly decreased cardiac tissue damage, enhanced function of the damaged heart tissue, and reduced MPO levels (an enzyme associated with inflammation and adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome) when compared to placebo. According to the researchers, “Consistently, TB4 protein suffices to provide significant cardioprotection after ischemia and reperfusion.”

We believe this study is notable for several important reasons: (1) this is the first time the cardioprotective effects of TB4 have been shown in a porcine (pig) model, the closest model to human cardiovascular structure and behavior; (2) this is the first study to show TB4’s cardioprotective effects in an ischemia-reperfusion model, i.e., a coronary artery is blocked to simulate an acute heart attack and then reopened to establish blood flow, which is the standard of care used in human patients whenever possible; and (3) this study confirms and elaborates the results seen in the original work published in Nature by Dr. Deepak Srivastava and his colleagues in 2004, as well as unpublished data using TB4 in permanently ligated, small animal models.

“A number of clinical trials are currently underway to test the ability of blood-derived stem cells to protect and repair the heart after a heart attack. TB4 is one of the most abundantly secreted proteins from such cells and this study suggests that TB4 may also be the key component common to these cells. If this is the case in humans, it may be possible to simply use TB4 rather than complicated stem cell therapies for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and other similar medical indications,” stated Dr. Deepak Srivastava, Director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Distinguished Professor in Pediatric Developmental Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco.

“We have been following closely the evolving story of TB4 for cardiovascular protection and repair since the 2004 Nature paper. This latest data showing TB4’s positive effects on the pig heart after ischemia and reperfusion are very compelling as this is the best possible model in which to show efficacy other than in human clinical trials. It appears TB4’s translation into a human therapeutic compound has considerable potential for success,” stated Dr. Alan Wasserman, Eugene Meyer Professor of Medicine and Chairman, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

The presentation was made at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007 meeting in Orlando, Florida, on November 5 at 3:45 p.m. EST. The research team consisted of 11 researchers from Klinikum GroBhadern, University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
RegeneRx is focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to accelerate tissue and organ repair. Currently, RegeneRx is developing TB4, a 43 amino acid peptide, in part, under an exclusive world-wide license from the National Institutes of Health. Preliminary research suggests that TB4 may prove efficacious for multiple indications; therefore, RegeneRx is developing TB4 as the cornerstone of its therapeutic platform. The technology platform has many potential applications in both the pharmaceutical and consumer products sectors. RegeneRx holds over 60 world-wide patents and patent applications related to dermal, ocular, and internal wounds and tissue repair, cardiac and neurological protection and injuries, septic shock and several consumer product areas. RegeneRx is currently sponsoring four Phase II chronic dermal wound healing clinical trials, a Phase II ophthalmic wound healing clinical trial, and a Phase I parenteral clinical trial in support of systemic administration of TB4 for its cardiovascular clinical development program.

The RegeneRx Technology Platform
TB4 is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide present in virtually all human cells. It is a first-in-class drug candidate that promotes endothelial cell differentiation, angiogenesis in dermal tissues, keratinocyte migration, collagen deposition, and down-regulates inflammation. One of TB4’s key mechanisms of action is its ability to regulate the cell-building protein, actin, a vital component of cell structure and movement. Of the thousands of proteins in cells, actin represents up to 10% of the total protein and, thus, plays a major role in the physiology of the cell. RegeneRx has identified several molecular variations of TB4 that may affect the aging of skin, among other properties, and could be important candidates as active ingredients in pharmaceutical and consumer products. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, and at other academic institutions throughout the U.S., have published numerous scientific articles indicating that TB4 is effective in accelerating dermal and corneal wound healing in several animal models, under a variety of conditions. In two articles published in the scientific journal, Nature, researchers found that TB4 protects heart tissue following a myocardial infarction and can regenerate coronary vessels in laboratory animals. A recent abstract presented at an American Heart Association meeting showed that in a porcine model TB4 is cardioprotective after reperfusion following ischemic injury. Abstracts of scientific papers related to TB4’s mechanisms of action may be viewed at RegeneRx’s web page: www.regenerx.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
The information in this press release may include certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements concern the Company’s current expectations regarding future events, including the ongoing and prospective development of TB4 and possible future benefits to the Company, its shareholders, and patients. Due to the nature of product development and the regulatory approval process, the forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those reflected in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the Company.

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