OUTSTANDING RESULT FOR AFFIRIS ALZHEIMER’S VACCINE IN THE LATEST THOMSON "THE ONES TO WATCH" RANKING

AZG Armenian Daily
22/12/2007

Vienna, 19 December 2007. The Alzheimer’s vaccine AD01 from AFFIRIS
GmbH has been listed in first place in an analysis conducted by the
international ranking agency Thomson Scientific into the prospects
for success of current clinical trials. The ranking assesses the
prospects of clinical trials around the world, regardless of the
disease in question. The Austrian company’s Alzheimer’s vaccine was
described as one of the "most promising drugs entering Phase I trials".

The world-leading information provider for science and research
published its findings in its latest quarterly report on the worldwide
development of medicines. Special mention was given to AFFIRIS GmbH’s
innovative platform technology AFFITOME, which also provides the
company with a basis for developing other products.

AFFIRIS GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria, today announced that Thomson
Scientific has identified the company’s Alzheimer’s vaccine AD01 as
one of the most interesting developments worldwide in clinical phase
I. Thomson Scientific, based in New York, is the most highly respected
provider of information on science and research. It publishes the
Science Citation Index, a reference for weighting scientific journals,
and therefore has significant influence on the career opportunities
of publishing scientists.

In the quarterly report which has just been released for July –
September 2007, "The Ones to Watch – Thomson Scientific’s review
of phase changes in the pharmaceutical pipeline", special praise is
reserved for AFFIRIS’ innovative peptide-based Alzheimer’s vaccine
AD01. The advantage of this technology is that it overcomes the problem
of a potential autoimmune reaction to the vaccine. Dr. Walter Schmidt,
CEO of AFFIRIS GmbH, comments:

"Autoimmune reactions are a major challenge in the development of
Alzheimer’s vaccines. The root of the problem is that the disease is
caused by detached parts of one of the body’s own proteins known as
beta-amyloids. The issue of autoimmune reactions has led to other
companies failing in their attempts to develop successful vaccines
against Alzheimer’s because their vaccines have not only attacked the
beta-amyloid but also the body’sown protein APP, which is essential
for healthy brain cell function."

The patented AFFITOME technology from AFFIRIS GmbH has enabled the
company to manufacture a vaccine to target the relevant structures
of human rogue proteins.

Individual vaccine candidates are known as AFFITOPE, while the
entire number of all possible candidates is referred to as the
AFFITOME. The Alzheimer’s vaccine AD01, for example, can be used to
target a specific structure of the beta-amyloid. The healthy, intact
protein APP is not attacked because it does not exhibit this structure.

Initial results from the ongoing AD01 trial are due to be published
in the second half of 2008. By then, AFFIRIS will already have begun
trialling a second Alzheimer’s vaccine, AD02, which also uses the
beneficial AFFITOME technology. The company’s largest investor,
MIG-Fonds, is also impressed with the structure of the company’s
development pipeline.

Michael Motschmann, Senior Fund Manager at MIG-Fonds explains:
"AFFIRIS is cleverly utilizing AFFITOME technology to develop
treatments for diseases that urgently require a medical solution
and also offer attractive market potential. Needless to say, with
22 million sufferers predicted for 2025 and no effective treatment,
Alzheimer’s is one such disease. AFFIRIS has other projects in
the pipeline targeted at developing medicines for the treatment
of atherosclerosis. As investors, we welcome both the huge market
potential of this strategy and also the diversification of risk."

About AFFiRiS GmbH (as at December 2007): AFFiRiS GmbH develops
peptide-based vaccines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,
atherosclerosis and other serious diseases. The company has established
its AFFITOME platform technologies. It employs 30 highly qualified
members of staff on 600 sqm of rented laboratory facilities at the
Campus Vienna Biocenter (). AFFITOPE and AFFITOME are
registered trademarks of AFFIRIS GmbH.

About MIG-Fonds:

The participation of MIG Verwaltungs AG in AFFIRIS GmbH represents the
continuation of a tried-and-tested approach. Investment is only made
in selected companies in Germany and Austria after their viability has
been thoroughly audited. Their innovative, high-potential products and
the entrepreneurial skills of their management teams are both key. MIG
Verwaltungs AG is supported by Alfred Wieder AG. This specialist
in venture capital is experienced in the sale of holdings and is
therefore the first point of contact for any potential investors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress