Acquisition by The BioBalance Corporation Expands GI Pipeline With New Biotherapeutic Agents; Company to Introduce Products for Ulcerative Colitis and Enteric Infections

NEW YORK -- The BioBalance Corp. today announced that the company had acquired a new platform technology of clinically-validated biotherapeutic agents from NexGen Bacterium Inc. The acquisition includes proprietary strains of Bacillus across all gastrointestinal (GI) indications that have undergone extensive laboratory and clinical testing and have been shown to possess natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-viral properties. The Bacillus genus is among the most widespread microorganisms in nature.

Dennis O'Donnell, BioBalance's COO stated, "This strategic acquisition strengthens our new product pipeline well beyond PROBACTRIX, our lead product for irritable bowel syndrome. BioBalance is poised to become a science-based GI therapeutics company that will ultimately address a broad range of substantial medical and commercial opportunities worldwide."

According to Robert Hoerr, MD, PhD, director of medical and regulatory affairs at BioBalance, " The NexGen biotherapeutic agents' unique anti-inflammatory and immunotherapeutic properties exhibit very strong activity against ulcerative colitis. These agents also show excellent promise for the treatment of acute enteric infections from both bacteria and viruses including therapeutic efficacy against rotavirus and Campylobacter pathogens, the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in the United States."

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine affecting 500,000 Americans usually diagnosed before the age of thirty with symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. While the specific cause is unknown, scientists believe that the body's immune system could be reacting to a virus or bacteria that triggers inflammation within the intestinal wall. Despite advances in medical treatments, therapy often remains unsatisfactory. The market size of ulcerative colitis drugs in the U.S. alone exceeds $500 million.

Infectious diarrhea can be caused by a number of bacteria and viruses including rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrhea in children under 2 years old. Infectious diarrhea is the leading cause of death in young children within developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4 million children die each year from diarrhea-related causes.

Source: BioBalance Corporation