GMP Companies, Inc. Announces Results of Preliminary In Vitro Testing of Novel Topical Anti-Infective Technology

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GMP Companies, Inc., a biotechnology and medical technology health care company, announced today that its GMP Anti-Infective Solutions, Inc. subsidiary completed preliminary in vitro testing of Microbisol(TM), a new, non-alcohol based topical agent designed to prevent the spread of serious infections in hospitals, medical facilities and a broad array of health care settings.

Microbisol is being developed for potential use as an antimicrobial hand wash solution, a surgical hand scrub and a patient pre-operative skin preparation product. Preclinical in vitro experiments show that the application of Microbisol almost completely (99.9999%) and persistently (up to 14 hours) kills vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The solution is also effective at persistently (up to 14 hours) killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to near complete levels (99.999%). VRE and MRSA are responsible for some of the most serious, and sometimes lethal, hospital- acquired infections. Preliminary in vitro testing has also indicated Microbisol's potential to kill several other bacteria, including E. coli and Serratia marscesens for up to 14 hours.

"We are very pleased with the results of our preliminary in vitro testing thus far," said George Titus, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for GMP Companies, Inc. "We are optimistic that this technology may have important potential to help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and prevent the spread of bacteria and other infectious agents in health care settings, where they are responsible for high costs in lives and dollars."

GMP's anti-infective product is being tested for potential broad-spectrum antibacterial activity in both human and veterinary applications. Preliminary tests in aqueous suspension suggest that this formulation can kill 46 additional bacteria strains, including several different strains of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escheria coli.

In preliminary in vitro anti-fungal testing, Microbisol also achieved near complete and persistent kill of several strains of the fungus, Candida albicans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Candida albicans is a major cause of nosocomial infections from indwelling intravascular catheters in health care institutions.

Further preclinical in vitro testing has demonstrated Microbisol's immediate kill of viruses, including HIV, rotavirus, feline calicivirus, Avian Flu and Influenza A in aqueous suspension. The Company's preliminary in vitro experiments also show persistent killing of the viruses HIV, rotavirus, and Avian Flu on artificial skin for at least 4 hours.

Additional preclinical and clinical (human) testing will be required to assess the significance of the preliminary in vitro efficacy data and to assess the safety of Microbisol. Approval from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for these asepsis applications is required prior to commercialization.

The CDC estimates that each year nearly two million patients in the U.S. contract an infection while hospitalized. According to the CDC, approximately 90,000 hospital patients die each year as a result of these hospital-acquired infections, and the cost of these infections to the U.S. health care system is estimated at $5 billion annually. The CDC states that improving hand hygiene is one of the most effective means of preventing the spread of infection within health care settings.

GMP Anti-Infective Solutions is developing Microbisol for health care uses in collaboration with The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) under a license agreement from P&G which provides GMP exclusive worldwide rights to market medical grade formulations of the technology to all medical settings (human and veterinary), commercial and industrial customers, including government agencies, food service providers and schools and use in addressing public health needs. It is expected that this technology, if approved by the FDA, will be broadly commercialized for use in health care settings, including hospitals, physician offices, outpatient medical facilities, home health care and veterinary medical facilities. P&G has retained the rights to develop and market a retail version of the technology.

About GMP Companies, Inc.

About GMP Companies, Inc. -- GMP Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop and commercialize biotechnology and medical technology products. These technologies are typically licensed or acquired from academic medical centers, individual inventors, research institutions and partner companies. GMP has commercialized other health care products such as the Life Sync(R) wireless ECG system which is being marketed throughout the United States. To learn more about GMP Companies, visit http://www.gmpcompanies.com/ .

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to obtain FDA approval of products embodying the Company's anti-infective technology, the results of additional preclinical and clinical testing of such products, the efficacy and safety of such products, and the ability to successfully develop and commercialize such products if ultimately approved by the FDA. GMP Companies assumes no obligation to update the statements in this press release or in any other disclosures that include forward-looking statements, which speak as of their respective dates.