Biotech Leaders, Patient Advocates Highlight Cutting-Edge HIV/AIDS Therapies, Need for Next Generation Treatments

BIO Challenges Biotech Community to Help Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation
ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
Leaders in biotechnology research and patient advocacy joined forces today at
the 2009 BIO International Convention to discuss the latest breakthroughs in
HIV/AIDS treatments. Following a keynote speech by Sir Elton John focused on the
needs of the HIV/AIDS community, representatives of biotech companies previewed
the next generation of treatments while patient advocates reiterated the need
for new therapies, particularly for those who have developed resistance to
existing medications. Researchers are developing new therapies that are more
effective in treating HIV/AIDS, including an AIDS vaccine and new methods of
delivery that hold the potential to increase patient compliance.

"Through biotechnology, we have been able to suppress many of the symptoms of
AIDS, increasing both quality of life and life expectancy for millions of people
around the world who are living with HIV/AIDS. Day in and day out, the men and
women of biotechnology are working to find a way to one day put an end to this
terrible disease," said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology
Industry Organization.

Greenwood was joined by a number of companies and patient representatives:

* John Bonfiglio, CEO of Argos Therapeutics
* Marie-Pierre de Bethune, Ph.D., Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Tibotec
* Michael Manganiello, Board Member, Whitman-Walker Clinic
* Robert McNally, President and CEO, GeoVax Labs
* David Miller, Board Member, AIDS Institute
* Paul Stoffels, M.D., Company Group Chairman, Research & Development,
Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson

"For 22 years, I have lived with a disease for which there is no cure," said
Michael Manganiello. "But I am hopeful. And, initiatives like the ones we are
learning about today give me hope. I believe that innovative approaches to the
discovery and development of new treatments will lead to a cure for the millions
of people living with HIV/AIDS."

Approximately two million people die from HIV/AIDS each year, and an equal
number of children live with the disease. Today, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS,
although the annual number of deaths attributed to AIDS has declined in the past
two years, in part as a result of greater access to treatment.

Biotechnology has led the way in developing advanced treatments for the more
than 33 million people worldwide who are HIV positive and/or living with AIDS.

To help meet the needs of people living with AIDS, BIO announced a two week
fundraising campaign to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. BIO challenged
the broader biotech community to match the association's own donation of
$150,000. To make a contribution to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, log onto
IAmBiotech.org/ejaf between now and June 2.

About Argos Therapeutics, Inc
The Company has generated multiple platform technologies and a diverse pipeline
of products based on its expertise in the biology of dendritic cells - the
master switch that turns the immune system on or off. The Company's ArcelisTM
technology trains the immune system to recognize and attack the disease.

Although current therapies (primarily highly active antiretroviral therapy)
constitute a $5 billion market, they have a number of limitations and challenges
and often ultimately fail due to viral mutation and resistance. Argos' ArcelisTM
HIV immunotherapy addresses a number of these issues by mobilizing a broad-based
and completely relevant immune assault on the patient's own virus. The Company
is currently enrolling and treating patients in a Phase 2 HIV trial at McGill
University in Montreal, Quebec.

About GeoVax Labs, Inc
GeoVax is a Biotechnology company developing human vaccines for diseases caused
by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus - AIDS) and other infectious agents.

The company works to develop AIDS vaccines for global markets, manufacture and
test these vaccines under GMP/GLP conditions (FDA guidelines), conduct phase
I/II and III human trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness and obtain
regulatory approval of these vaccines in the USA and specified international
markets.

About Tibotec
Tibotec R&D is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative new
drugs for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases of high unmet medical need.
Tibotec was established in 1994 by Rudi Pauwels as a drug discovery laboratory.
In 1995, Virco was established as a spin-off to improve the management of
HIV/AIDS with innovative, new molecular diagnostic tools for HIV resistance
testing that would better inform the treatment decisions made by physicians. In
April 2002, Tibotec and Virco were acquired by Johnson & Johnson and evolved to
a fully integrated pharmaceutical company focussing on the discovery and the
development of new drugs for Infectious Diseases.

About 2009 BIO International Convention
The world's leading biotechnology industry event, the BIO International
Convention, is taking place May 18-21, 2009, at the Georgia World Congress
Center in Atlanta. The BIO International Convention is the largest global event
for the biotechnology industry and attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers
key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and
inspiration on the major trends affecting the biotech industry. The annual event
draws industry leaders from 48 states and 60 countries.

The BIO International Convention helps to support BIO programs and initiatives.
BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the
industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through
biotechnology innovation. For more information on the global event for
biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit
http://convention.bio.org/.

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions,
state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States
and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and
development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental
biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the
world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with
industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Human Resources Conference
May 17-19, 2009
Atlanta, GA

2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, GA

BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Audrey Chang, 202-489-8634
audrey.chang@harbourgrp.com
or
Tracy Krughoff, 202-279-0536
tkrughoff@bio.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009