AvidBiotics Corp. Granted Key U.S. and European Patents on Unique Protein Modification Platform

AvidBiotics Corp. Granted Key U.S. and European Patents on Unique Protein
Modification Platform
Diversity Generating Retroelements Combine Significantly Greater Protein
Engineering Capabilities with Greater Ease of Use

SOUTH SAN FRANCSICO, Calif., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- AvidBiotics Corp.
announced the issuance of foundational patents encompassing a completely novel
mechanism for generating massive diversity within precisely targeted sites of
protein-encoding DNA sequences. The technology platform is referred to as
Diversity Generating Retroelements (DGR) and patents were issued in both the
United States (#7,585,957) and in Europe (#1,173,995). UCLA and AvidBiotics
Corp are co-assignees of the patents, and AvidBiotics holds exclusive,
worldwide rights to the patents from UCLA.

"These patents substantiate the novel ground-breaking work of our co-founder,
Jeffrey F. Miller, and could lead to an entirely new, more efficient way of
creating new protein therapeutics and improving the safety and/or efficacy of
existing therapeutic proteins", said David Martin, Jr., chief executive
officer of AvidBiotics. "Due to the magnitude of potential diversification
and unique functionality, the DGR system as a technology platform could also
enable the creation of new diagnostic reagents. At AvidBiotics, we are using
this exciting technology to discover and develop novel antibacterials,
antivirals and anti-cancer agents."

The advantages of the DGR system over more traditional tools include: 1) the
unprecedented size of library diversity; 2) the ease of use; 3) the focused
nature of the mutations; and 4) the ability to keep repeating the mutagenic
cycles without loss of the protein scaffold or previous gains.

AvidBiotics' focus is to utilize the DGR system to diversify natural R-type
pyocins (Avidocin(TM) proteins) to target problematic pathogens affecting
human health and the safety of the food supply, for example, Clostridium
difficile and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. Additionally, the company is
modifying a known mechanism and scaffold using the DGR to target highly
virulent viral pathogens of interest to the biodefense community.

About AvidBiotics

AvidBiotics Corp is a biotherapeutics company with a proprietary technology
platform focused on the development of genetically modified protein products
for the treatment of major infectious diseases, both bacterial and viral.
Founded in 2004, by David Martin, Jr., Jeffery F. Miller, and James Knighton,
based on technology discovered by Dr. Miller and colleagues, AvidBiotics has
technology that enables diversification of protein structures in a precise
manner. The core technology has direct applicability to human therapeutics
and diagnostics, veterinary medicine, agriculture and food safety, research
tools and reagents. AvidBiotics is headquartered in South San Francisco,
California. For more information go to www.avidbiotics.com.

SOURCE Avidbiotics Corp.

James Knighton, +1-650-873-1141, for AvidBiotics Corp.