VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 6, 2007) - EnWave Corporation (TSX VENTURE:ENW)(FRANKFURT:E4U) ("EnWave" or "the Company") is pleased to report that, following a successful engineering test period at EnWave's Vancouver laboratory, the Company's bioREV prototype is to be relocated to San Jose, California to begin a rigorous scientific testing program.
The Company's collaboration partner, Aridis Pharmaceuticals, will undertake the testing program using bioREV to stabilize and dehydrate three vaccines and one antibody. Aridis will develop formulations for each product that are optimal for use with the bioREV technology, and then process each product to measure biological activity and shelf-life post dehydration. EnWave expects to receive preliminary results from Aridis for the first vaccine in Q1, 2008, but the entire testing program is scheduled to last until 2009.
In May, 2006, Aridis conducted an initial test on EnWave's original bioREV laboratory prototype and found that the technology was capable of dehydrating liquids in under 30 minutes. Since that time, EnWave's team has been focused on creating a bioREV prototype specifically designed for the dehydration of vaccines and antibodies. The Company has now demonstrated that a sterile vial of liquid vaccine formulation can be dehydrated in 3 to 5 minutes.
The primary purposes of dehydrating vaccines and antibodies are to reduce the need for refrigeration during shipment, and to allow stockpiling in the event of severe disease outbreaks. Currently available methods of dehydration, including freeze-drying, are time consuming, expensive and complex to perform. Together, EnWave and Aridis will test whether bioREV is an alternative solution to freeze-drying and may allow for more efficient dehydration of vaccines, particularly those destined for developing countries.
The Company has also added a new member to the consulting team, Mr. Drew Coleman of Port Townsend, Washington, Principal of Biodynamics International. Mr. Coleman previously held the position of Senior Director, Process Engineering & Facilities with ID Biomedical/Glaxo Smith Kline. He has also worked with Genentech, Amgen, and ICOS Corporation in the area of process engineering. Mr. Coleman will advise EnWave on the development of Good Manufacturing Practice protocols for bioREV, and provide input into the design of EnWave's multi-vial vaccine and antibody dehydration technology.
Dr. Tim Durance, Chairman and Co-CEO of EnWave, stated that, "The Company has worked hard to complete the development of our bioREV single-vial prototype for vaccine and antibody dehydration. We are very excited about the potential for this technology and are looking forward to receiving the results from Aridis' testing program. Additionally, the expertise brought by Mr. Coleman to our current development program should prove invaluable to the quality of the multi-vial technology."
About EnWave
Using proprietary technologies developed in conjunction with the University of British Columbia, EnWave is focused on the development of new methods of dehydrating biological materials using Radiant Energy Vacuum technology under its bioREV and nutraREV brands. REV technology combines microwave energy transfer with pressure control to dehydrate and alter structures and drive chemical reactions, thereby creating unique product characteristics for both food products and medical applications that include dry vaccines. More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.
EnWave Corporation
Dr. Tim Durance, Chairman & Co-CEO
Safe Harbour for Forward-Looking Information Statements: This release may contain forward-looking information based on management's expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include: "expects to receive" and "hope to prove". These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions: there is no guarantee that the Company's bioREV technology can or will be used to dehydrate vaccines, antibodies or other biological materials on a commercial scale; even if the Company's bioREV technology can be used as described in this news release, there is no guarantee that such use will result in orders for the Company's bioREV technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
EnWave Corporation
Dr. Tim Durance
Chairman and Co-CEO
(604) 806-6110
EnWave Corporation
Mr. John McNicol
President and Co-CEO
(604) 806-6110
(604) 806-6112 (FAX)
Website: www.enwave.net
