Microdosing study shows that alphaHGA is completely bioavailable by the oral route

Microdosing study shows that alphaHGA is completely bioavailable by the oral route Tripep AB, the Swedish biotechnology company focusing on HIV therapy, is pleased to report that, following a microdosing study performed by Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd in Nottingham, UK, alphaHGA is orally bioavailable in humans. Moreover, the study also showed that alphaHGA has good kinetic properties. Tripep previously announced the discovery of alphaHGA, a new candidate drug against HIV, which has a totally new mode of action as it is the first substance in an entirely new class of compounds against HIV. In collaboration with Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd (a Clinical Research Organisation based in Nottingham, UK), Tripep has tested the oral bioavailability and plasma pharmacokinetics on human volunteers using 14C labelled alphaHGA. The results showed that alphaHGA was quickly and completely absorbed into the blood after oral administration. The terminal half-life in plasma was approximately 10 hours. The main route of elimination was by urine. Professor Anders Vahlne, acting CEO and Head of Research at Tripep, commented: "These results are very encouraging for the future drug development work on alphaHGA. Phase I/II studies in HIV infected individuals are expected to start later this year or early next year, following successful completion of safety studies in animals." As previously indicated to the market, Tripep intends to evaluate the feasibility of an AIM listing ahead of phase I/II trials and has appointed NCB Stockbrokers, an official AIM sponsor, in this regard. For more information, please contact: Rolf Nordström, Chairman, Tripep AB Tel: +44 20 7839 8686, mobile phone: +44 7776 137 400 E-mail: rolf.l.nordstrom@btinternet.com Anders Vahlne, CEO and Head of Research, Tripep AB Tel: +46 35 31755, mobile phone: +46 709-28 05 28 E-mail: anders.vahlne@labmed.ki.se Conor McCarthy, NCB, Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 1 611 5989, mobile phone: +353 87 290 0409 E-mail: conor.mccarthy@ncb.ie Lisa Baderoon, Buchanan Communications Tel: + 44 20 7466 5000, mobile phone: +44 7721 413 496 E-mail: lisab@buchanan.uk.com Notes to Editors: Tripep AB is a Swedish biotechnology research company that develops and commercialises candidate drugs based on patented technologies. Its main focuses are: - research and development of an HIV-inhibiting drug, - preclinical research focusing on the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against HIV and Hepatitis C, and - the RAS ® technology platform. For more details of the company's technologies, please refer to the company's web site at www.tripep.se NCB Stockbrokers is Ireland's largest independent investment house. Its businesses comprise of Equities, Corporate Finance, Fixed Income, Wealth Management, Specialist Asset Management, Private Equity, Moneybroking and Investment Funds. NCB Stockbrokers Ltd is a member of the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and is authorised by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority under the Stock Exchange Act, 1995. www.ncbdirect.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/07/21/20040721BIT20100/wkr0001.pdf