| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUTOIMMUNE
INC. REPORTS 2002 SECOND QUARTER AND YEAR END FINANCIAL RESULTS
Pasadena, California,
August 6, 2002 AutoImmune Inc. (Nasdaq: AIMM)
today reported a net loss of $0.18 million, or $0.01 per share basic and diluted,
for the three months ended June 30, 2002, compared with a net loss of $0.07 million,
or $0.00 per share basic and diluted, for the three months ended June 30, 2001.
For the six months ended June 30, 2002, the net loss was $0.39 million, or $0.02
per share basic and diluted, compared with a net loss of $0.19 million, or $0.01
per share basic and diluted, for the six months ended June 30, 2001. These results
reflect the continued receipt of monthly payments from BioMS Medical Corporation
(BioMS) and a reduction in interest income due to a lower average
return on investment. As of June 30, 2002, the Company reported $10.4 million
in cash and marketable securities.
Robert C. Bishop, Ph.D., Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer stated AutoImmune continues to conserve
financial resources while actively pursuing additional outlicensing opportunities
and waiting for results from externally funded clinical trials.
BioMS
has announced it now anticipates starting an advanced phase clinical trial during
the first quarter of 2003 on its MBP8298 treatment for chronic progressive multiple
sclerosis, which utilizes intellectual property rights exclusively licensed from
AutoImmune. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., is conducting additional pre-clinical
and clinical pharmacology studies on an oral formulation of COPAXONE® (glatiramer
acetate), a product for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, which utilizes intellectual
property rights exclusively licensed from AutoImmune. Recruitment for the oral
insulin arm of the NIH sponsored diabetes prevention trial (DPT-1), which is testing
a therapeutic method covered by AutoImmunes intellectual property, remains
ongoing.
AutoImmune is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the development
of a new class of mucosally administered therapies for the treatment of autoimmune
and cell-mediated inflammatory diseases and conditions.
This release contains
forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. The Companys
actual results may differ significantly from results discussed in the forward-looking
statements due to a number of important factors, including, but not limited to
the uncertainties of clinical trial results, the Companys dependence on
third parties for licensing revenue, and the risks of technological change and
competition. These factors are more fully discussed in the Companys most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
in the section Business-Factors to be Considered. The discussion in
the Annual Report on Form 10-K is hereby referenced into this release.
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