The World Health Imaging, Telemedicine and Informatics Alliance (WHITIA) today unveiled Remi-d, a new product concept that is intended to provide remote-operated X-ray capabilities for use in screening across areas of the developing world experiencing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) co-epidemic, high incidences of Black Lung disease, or outbreaks of other infectious respiratory diseases. Remi-d is a remote-controlled, self-contained, digital medical X-ray device intended to meet the imaging needs of resource-limited areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America and Southeast Asia, where radiologists and technologists are in short supply.

According to the World Health Organization, two-thirds of the world’s population is without access to basic X-ray services - a key component of primary health care delivery. Remi-d is intended to provide advanced capabilities including:

- Automated patient experience via a computer interface that allows patients to self-manage the multi-lingual capable registration process and retrieve results.

- Teleradiography through which a remote X-ray technologist can position patients and operate the X-ray equipment.

- Avatar/Patient Interaction providing a digital representation of the remote technologist in the booth to guide the patient through the X-ray process.

- Teleradiology that sends Remi-d’s images to remote radiologists for interpretation and diagnosis.

WHITIA partnered with Merge Healthcare and SEDECAL to develop Remi-d with the shared goal of deploying the systems worldwide and providing millions of people with the opportunity to receive life-saving health screenings.

“When Remi-d’s development has been completed and the device has been approved, we hope to make a significant difference in the screening of diseases worldwide,” said Ivy Walker, Chief Executive Officer of WHITIA. “With the support of partners such as Merge Healthcare and others, WHITIA is well-positioned to continue Remi-d’s development and to provide support to sustain the systems when they are ready to be deployed. With ongoing partner and solution development, we believe Remi-d, if approved, could be a leader in remote medical imaging.”

“We are extremely pleased to work with WHITIA on this important concept for better global access to diagnostic imaging,” said Justin Dearborn, Chief Executive Officer of Merge Healthcare. “Over the course of our partnership, we have seen many of the human resource and technical barriers to imaging access experienced by developing communities, and Remi-d is intended to specifically address these very issues. We are proud of the role our technology plays with this new and potentially game changing concept.”

The WHITIA effort is backed by a group of globally recognized business and healthcare leaders including:

- Newton N. Minow, Chairman of WHITIA, Senior Counsel at Sidley Austin LLP; former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission and of The RAND Corporation; trustee emeritus of the Mayo Clinic

- Michael W. Ferro, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Merrick Ventures, LLC

- Max Downham, Executive Director of International College of Surgeons

- Matthew R. Glucksberg, Professor and Chair of Northwestern University Biomedical Engineering Department

- David Kelso, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Director of the Center for Innovative Global Health Technologies

WHITIA will offer live demonstrations of the Remi-d prototype in the Merge Healthcare booth (No. 5619, Hall A) at the 95th Annual Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Ill. Nov. 29 - Dec. 3. Walker will also present an overview of the Remi-d concept at several times during the conference. For more information, visit http://www.whitia.org.

Source
World Health Imaging, Telemedicine & Informatics Alliance

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., (Pink Sheets:BMGP) a developer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria detection, recently announced in November that the Company will hold an investor conference call to discuss upcoming business opportunities and its agreement with Los Alamos National Security, one of the world’s premiere research laboratories.

Specifically, the call, which will be open to all investors, will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:30 EST. Interested parties may dial into the Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp. conference call using the toll free dial-in number (US & Canada) of (888) 858-6021 or the local toll dial-in number of (973) 935-2037. The conference pass code to access the call is 5913680359.

“It is a very exciting time for all of us at Biomagnetics as well as our shareholders. For the past few quarters, we have been working on several major growth initiatives that are now coming to fruition,” commented Clayton Hardman, CEO of Biomagnetics Diagnostics. “Please join us on tomorrow’s investor conference call as we discuss the pending introduction of our revolutionary technologies for malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and other pathogen and disease diagnosis and as we profile our new and evolving relationship with one of the world’s premiere research institutions, Los Alamos National Security. We view our current business opportunities as being highly significant.”

The Company recently announced on November 30th that it has finalized a “Patent License Agreement with Los Alamos National Security.” Under the agreement, Biomagnetics will have access to the Triggered Optical Biosensor and Integrated Optical Biosensor System (IBOS) technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

According to the World Health Organization, some 3.2 billion people, or about half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria transmission in 107 countries and territories worldwide. While there are between 350 million and 500 million new cases of malaria each year, there are very few reliable and field deployable diagnostic tools available. In the case of malaria, early detection substantially improves treatability and survivability. Field deployable Integrated Optical Biosensor System (IBOS), such as those Biomagnetics Diagnostics is planning to soon introduce, hold the promise to significantly speed the diagnostic testing process and to meaningfully lower costs and improve lives.

Source
Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX) (the “Company”), an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, announced its support for World AIDS Day.

“Today is the 21st World AIDS Day and as we remember the millions that have lost their fight with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we remain focused and devoted to commercializing both preventative and therapeutic vaccines. We have been encouraged by the progress of our peers and believe we are on the right track to help current and potential HIV/AIDS sufferers lead improved lives.” said Robert McNally, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer.

He added, “Just this month, U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-Atlanta) sponsored a congressional resolution encouraging the House of Representatives to continue investment in the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine for the United States. This resolution is a big step in the right direction for companies such as GeoVax, who are working on HIV/AIDS vaccines targeted for the developed, not just the developing world.”

“Additionally, we are grateful for the support of Chuck Panozzo, founder of the internationally acclaimed rock band Styx, who has joined the GeoVax Labs awareness campaign as an advocate of the Company’s promising HIV/AIDS vaccine. Chuck is conducting multiple interviews at this week’s World AIDS Day event in Washington, D.C., sharing his passion towards finding a vaccine and motivating others afflicted with the disease to take control of their lives, even though each day is a struggle.”

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. is increasing. Dr. McNally stated, “Much of the world’s attention has gone to the third world and there is a misconception that in the U.S. HIV/AIDS is not a problem. The advent of oral medication has given life extensions, but with a tremendous financial burden not only for the patient but the US healthcare system which spends over $13,000,000,000 annually on HIV/AIDS. The public believes the virus is under control but the fact is that the virus prevalence is still increasing, especially in the Southeast.”

GeoVax’s preventative vaccine is currently in Phase 2a human trials, which began in February 2009. The trial is only the fifth Phase 2a trial to be conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, which has conducted more than eighty Phase 1 trials. The first injections took place at the University of Alabama, Birmingham and at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The Phase 2a human trials will include a total of 225 volunteers, 150 of whom will receive the actual vaccine while the others receive placebo injections. There are 13 participating sites, 11 of which are in North America and two of which are in Peru.

GeoVax is currently in the process of submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the initial testing of the therapeutic use of its vaccine. If the FDA has no objections, the Company plans to start Phase I therapeutic clinical trials during the first quarter of 2010. The initial trial will be conducted in Atlanta and enroll individuals who began successful antiretroviral therapy within one year of documented infection. The simian prototype of the GeoVax vaccine has had excellent success in controlling established infections in the non human primate model.

Dr. McNally concluded, “Our HIV/AIDS vaccines are designed to elicit protective antibody and protective T cells. For the preventative application of our vaccine, the purpose of the antibody is to block virus before it infects cells and the goal for the T cells is to recognize and kill cells infected by virus that escaped the antibody. For the therapeutic application, the T cells will likely play the major role in protection because of their ability to kill (eliminate) already infected cells.”

About World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is recognized each year on December 1. It is a time to honor those who have been lost to AIDS. It is a reminder that we must do more to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS individually and as a community.

The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is “Universal Access and Human Rights.” The fight against HIV/AIDS has come a long way since the early 1980’s when the disease was believed to be one that only homosexuals carried. Fast-forward to today where there is an entire day dedicated to promoting awareness, improving education and fighting the prejudice related to the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

President Obama recently signed the Ryan White Care Act, which places a new emphasis on testing and calls for 5 Million HIV tests annually. Ryan White was an Indiana teenage hemophiliac who became infected with HIV after receiving a contaminated blood treatment. The President also lifted the 22-year ban on travel to the U.S. by persons infected with HIV or those living with AIDS.

About HIV/AIDS

AIDS is an epidemic that can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender, age or sexual orientation. 33 million people are currently infected globally and it is estimated that there will be 2.5 million new infections this year. Since the beginning of the epidemic, over a million people in the U.S. have contracted the virus. Every 9 1/2 minutes, someone in the US is infected with AIDS. Globally, HIV is the top killer among women of reproductive age.

HIV is a worldwide disease with different subtypes (or clades) of the virus predominating in different regions of the world. Clade B is the predominant subtype in North America. Globally, most infections involve subtypes AG, B, and C. In 2008, antiretroviral treatment in low and middle income countries was restricted to about 3 million people. In the United States, about 50% of those who are infected are estimated to be on drug treatment.

About GeoVax Labs, Inc.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company, established to develop, manufacture, license and commercialize human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents. GeoVax’s AIDS vaccine technology is the subject of 20 issued or filed patent applications. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed for use in uninfected people to prevent acquisition of HIV-1 and limit the progression to AIDS should a person become infected GeoVax AIDS vaccines also may be effective as a therapeutic treatment (for people already infected with the HIV-1 virus).

GeoVax’s core AIDS vaccine technologies were developed by Dr. Harriet Robinson, Chief Scientific Officer, through a collaboration of colleagues at Emory University’s Vaccine Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and GeoVax.

GeoVax’s AIDS vaccines have moved forward in human clinical trials conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) based in Seattle, Washington. The HVTN, funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest worldwide clinical trials program dedicated to the development and testing of AIDS vaccines. Preclinical work enabling evaluation of GeoVax DNA and MVA vaccines was funded and supported by NIAID, which provided additional support to GeoVax AIDS vaccine development program with a $18 million IPCAVD grant awarded in late 2007.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this news release, not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions on the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture these vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent AIDS in humans, vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, and other factors over which GeoVax has no control. GeoVax assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so. Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports.

Source: GeoVax Labs, Inc