Victorian HIV Test to Help Monitor Sufferers

ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
People living with HIV will benefit from a new test developed by Victoria,
Australia scientists that offers a simpler and cheaper way of monitoring the
disease in sufferers, Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said today.

The test, developed by researchers at the Melbourne-based Macfarlane Burnet
Institute, provides a simple way for clinicians to monitor the key CD4 T-cells
in people with HIV.

These cells are used as an accurate marker of the disease`s progression because
HIV targets these cells, reducing their levels and weakening the immune system
which can result in the onset of AIDS.

"The Victorian Government is taking action to promote health and lifestyle
benefits through biotech initiatives, such as this new HIV test, which will also
create jobs for Victorians," Mr. Jennings said.

"This test is good news for the 40 million people worldwide diagnosed with HIV -
a virus that continues to grow by three million new cases each year. The current
monitoring approach using flow cytometry is expensive, complex and only
available in major laboratories.

The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test addresses an unmet need for a
lower-cost, simpler and higher throughput technology suitable for routine use in
pathology laboratories."

The researchers behind the ELISA-based test, led by Associate Professor David
Anderson and Professor Suzanne Crowe, have formed a spinout company, SeeD4, and
have received funding of $377,000 from the Medical Research Commercialisation
Fund (MRCF), a $30 million fund supported by the Victorian Government, for
ongoing development.

Mr. Jennings announced the innovation at the international BIO2009 conference in
Atlanta, USA, ahead of a keynote address on HIV/AIDS initiatives by Sir Elton
John.

"The management of HIV and the use of antiviral therapies require the regular
monitoring of circulating CD4 T-cells in patients, that`s why this test is so
important," Mr. Jennings said.

"The measurement of CD4 T-cell levels is initially used to determine when
patients should commence treatment. Once on treatment, CD4 T-cells are regularly
monitored to ensure that the viral load is effectively managed and that the
virus has not become resistant to therapy."

The MRCF investment will enable completion of the testing and clinical
evaluation, including a head-to-head comparison with the flow cytometry method.

The technology was developed to an initial validation stage with funding
provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the National Health and
Medical Research Council.

State of Victoria, Australia
Lyall Johnson, +61 3 9651 5799 or +61 400 422 141
www.premier.vic.gov.au
or
Matt Schmidt, 650-345-3549 (U.S.)
Mobile: 650-796-2679
matt@fscomm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009