Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Updates from Biotech/Pharma Stocks

Point Roberts, WA - June 3, 2011 - Investorideas.com, a leader in sector stock issues a trading alert for biotech/pharma stocks Aethlon Medical, Inc. AEMD, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX). Merck & Company, Inc.MRK following recent news and developments for the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The month of May broke headlines for both Merck MRK and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX). Merck MRK announced May 13 th that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved VICTRELIS™ (boceprevir), for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Following on its heels, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) announced May 23 rd that theFDA approved INCIVEK™ (telaprevir). Aethlon Medical, Inc. AEMD reported President Rodney S. Kenley will discuss the role of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an upcoming presentation at the 20th International Vicenza Course of Hemodialysis and CKD (chronic kidney disease) on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in Vicenza, Italy. Trading Snapshot (As of close of trading June 2nd) Aethlon Medical, Inc. AEMD closed at $ 0.1044, up 0.0044 (4.40%) Merck & Company, Inc. MRK closed at $ 36.15, down 0.10 (0.28%) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) closed at $ 54.50, up $1.48 (2.79%) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) News: Aethlon Medical AEMD President Rodney S. Kenley to Present at the 20th International Vicenza Course on Hemodialysis and CKD SAN DIEGO - June 2, 2011 (Investorideas.com newswire) - Aethlon Medical, Inc. AEMD today announced that Company President Rodney S. Kenley will discuss the role of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an upcoming presentation at the 20th International Vicenza Course of Hemodialysis and CKD (chronic kidney disease) on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in Vicenza, Italy. The Aethlon Hemopurifier® is a first-in-class therapeutic filtration device that selectively removes infectious viruses and immunosuppressive toxins from the entire circulatory system through the use of dialysis machines and other blood circulatory pumps already located in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Mr. Kenley's presentation, "The Treatment of HCV with Affinity Plasmapheresis on Dialysis Machines," will focus on treating HCV in existing dialysis clinics with no change in infrastructure or capital investments. The Hemopurifier® can be used to treat HCV in dialysis patients, in whom the prevalence of HCV is over 100 times higher than in the general population, as well as to treat non-dialysis patients. Full News: http://www.investorideas.com/CO/AEMD/news/2011/06021.asp Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX ) News: FDA Approves INCIVEK™ (telaprevir) for People with Hepatitis C 79% of people treated for the first time achieved a SVR (viral cure) with INCIVEK combination treatment- Vertex launches a comprehensive financial assistance and patient support program- CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-May 23, 2011, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INCIVEK™ (telaprevir) tablets for a broad group of people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C with compensated liver disease (some level of damage to the liver but the liver still functions), including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). INCIVEK (in-SEE-veck) is approved for people who are new to treatment, and for people who were treated previously but who did not achieve a viral cure (relapsers, partial responders and null responders). INCIVEK is given for 12 weeks in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin, two other medicines approved to treat hepatitis C. After the first 12 weeks, all patients stop receiving INCIVEK and continue treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin alone for an additional 12 weeks or 36 weeks of treatment. With INCIVEK combination treatment, more than 60 percent of people treated for the first time, as well as those who relapsed after previous therapy, are expected to complete all treatment in 24 weeks - half the time needed if they were to take pegylated-interferon and ribavirin alone. All other patients will receive a total of 48 weeks of treatment. INCIVEK will arrive in pharmacies this week. Full News: http://investors.vrtx.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=580154 FDA Approves Merck's VICTRELIS™ (boceprevir), First-in-Class Oral Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Protease Inhibitor WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., May 13, 2011 - Merck MRK (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VICTRELIS™ (boceprevir), the company's innovative new medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). VICTRELIS is approved for the treatment of CHC genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients (18 years of age and older) with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy. Full news:http://www.merck.com/newsroom/news-release-archive/prescription-medicine-news/2011_0513.html?WT.svl=content&WT.pi=content+Views Company Snapshot About Aethlon Medical AEMD Visit the showcase page on Investorideas.com http://www.investorideas.com/CO/AEMD Get added to the company's news alerts: http://www.investorideas.com/Resources/Newsletter.asp At Aethlon Medical, we create revolutionary devices to address infectious disease and cancer. Our devices are designed to be novel platform solutions that fill therapeutic voids or aid in disease diagnosis and monitoring. Our Hemopurifier® is the first medical device to selectively target the removal of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from the entire circulatory system. We recently discovered that our Hemopurifier® captures tumor-secreted exosomes that suppress the immune system of those afflicted with cancer. Prior to this discovery, a therapeutic strategy to directly inhibit or reverse the immunosuppressive destruction caused by exosomes did not exist in cancer care. By eliminating this mechanism, we believe our Hemopurifier® can fill an unmet clinical need and provide the benefit of an immune-based therapy without adding drug toxicity or interaction risks to established and emerging treatment strategies. Human studies have documented the ability of our Hemopurifier® to safely reduce viral load in both Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients without the administration of antiviral drugs. However, our initial clinical and commercialization focus is to establish our Hemopurifier® as an adjunct therapy to enhance the benefit of both infectious disease and cancer treatment regimens. In this regard, we plan to commercialize our Hemopurifier® in India as we advance our clinical strategies in the United States and the European Union. In vitro studies conducted by government and non-government research institutes have also verified that our Hemopurifier® has broad-spectrum capabilities against bioterror and emerging pandemic threats. These studies have confirmed the capture of Dengue Hemorrhagic Virus, Ebola Hemorrhagic Virus, Lassa Hemorrhagic Virus, West Nile Virus, H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus, 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus, the reconstructed Spanish Flu of 1918 Virus, and Monkeypox Virus, which serves as a model for human Smallpox infection. As a therapeutic device, the Hemopurifier® provides us with a pipeline into four significant market opportunities: Cancer: A treatment candidate to improve patient responsiveness to established cancer therapies by removing immunosuppressive exosomes from circulation. Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV): As an adjunct therapy to accelerate viral load reduction at the outset of standard of care drug regimens. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Provides a potential therapeutic option for HIV-infected individuals to manage disease progression once they become resistant to antiviral drug regimens. Bioterror and Pandemic Threats: Represents the most advanced broad-spectrum strategy to address untreatable bioterror and emerging pandemic threats. The Hemopurifier® is an expansive multi-patented platform technology whose mechanism of action can be leveraged to provide therapeutic, diagnostic, and biomarker discovery solutions. As a therapeutic, the Hemopurifier® is a single-use disposable cartridge designed for implementation within the established infrastructure of dialysis machines and other blood circulatory pumps already located in hospitals and clinics worldwide. In design, our Hemopurifier® is a selective filtration device containing affinity agents that tightly bind to high-mannose structures unique to the surface of exosomes produced by cancer and glycoproteins residing on the envelope of viruses. These agents are immobilized around approximately 2800 porous hollow fibers that run the interior length of our device. The resulting design provides us the novel ability to separate both exosome and viral targets away from blood cells so they can then be selectively and permanently removed from the circulatory system. In application, blood circulation is established into the Hemopurifier® via a catheter or other blood access device. Once blood flow has been established, treatment benefit is immediate as the entire circulatory system can pass through the Hemopurifier® in as little as 15 minutes. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Exosome Sciences, Inc. (ESI) is focused on the development of exosome-targeted products and services that improve cancer diagnosis, provide post-treatment cancer surveillance, and aid in the discovery of biomarkers that allow doctors to optimize patient therapy. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical and Exosome Sciences can be accessed online at www.aethlonmedical.com. Contact: James A. Joyce Chairman, CEO 858.459.7800 x301 jj@aethlonmedical.com About InvestorIdeas.com: InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing, including biotech stocks with its portal BiotechIndustryStocks.com. Research more biotech stocks at the Biotech stocks Directory: http://www.investorideas.com/BIS/Stock_List.asp Disclaimer/ Disclosure : The Investorideas.com is a third party publisher of news and research Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. AETHLON MEDICAL INC(OTC BB: AEMD ) Showcase biotech, biodefense and defense stock on Investorideas.com ( $one thousand five hundred per month, $five thousand per month in 144 stock)Effective March 15, 2011 800-665-0411 - cvanzant@investorideas.com Source - Investorideas.com AETHLON MEDICAL INC (OTC BB: AEMD) is a Showcase biotech, biodefense and defense stock on Investorideas.com ($one thousand five hundred per month, $five thousand per month in 144 stock) Effective March 15, 2011