iBio, Inc. Intellectual Property Update

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iBio, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN:IBIO), a leading provider of plant-based biotechnology for developing and manufacturing biological products, provided an update on recent patents and inventions.

On September 19, 2017, iBio received US patent serial number 9,765,349 entitled “SYSTEM FOR EXPRESSION OF GENES IN PLANTS” from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  This is in addition to US 9,551,001 issued earlier in 2017.  These patents join previously issued US patents, 7,491,509, 7,683,238, 7,692,063, 8,058,511, 8,597,942 and 8,951,791 that protect intellectual property owned by iBio.

Further protection of iBio’s intellectual property in the fibrosis field was also obtained from an additional patent covering iBio’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis product pipeline.   This patent on an invention by Dr. Carol Feghali-Bostwick and colleagues, US 9,556,252 entitled "USE OF ENDOSTATIN PEPTIDES FOR THE TREATMENT OF FIBROSIS," was issued on January 31,2017 and included claims covering composition of matter and methods of use for endostatin-related peptides.  Previously issued members of this patent family include US patents 9,365,616, 8,507,441 and 8,716,232.

iBio obtained exclusive licenses to the prior patents and related intellectual property developed by Dr. Feghali-Bostwick and then entered into an ongoing collaboration agreement with Dr. Feghali-Bostwick's current institution, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), which led to further development and invention of the potentially breakthrough biotherapeutic approach to fibrotic diseases described by this family of patents.  Additional patent applications on recent inventions by iBio and its collaborators in this field are pending in the U.S. and internationally.

In the antibody and vaccine categories, iBio received a Notice of Allowance for US serial number 14/336,071 entitled “INFLUENZA HEMAGGLUTININ ANTIBODIES, COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS” that will join issued family member US 8,784,819.  In its international portfolio iBio received a Notice of Allowance for Canadian application 2642054 entitled “INFLUENZA ANTIGEN, VACCINE COMPOSITIONS, AND RELATED METHODS”.

iBio is actively pursuing further development of new inventions in both the product and technology categories at its iBio CDMO laboratories in Texas and also in collaboration with high quality collaborators. The Company intends to pursue appropriate U.S. and international patent protection for these inventions and will also maintain trade secret protection for certain innovations it prefers to keep confidential.

About iBio, Inc.

iBio, a leader in developing plant-based biopharmaceuticals, provides a range of product and process development, analytical, and manufacturing services at the large-scale development and manufacturing facility of its subsidiary iBio CDMO, LLC. in Bryan, Texas.  The facility houses laboratory and pilot-scale operations, as well as large-scale automated hydroponic systems capable of growing over four million plants as "in process inventory" and delivering over 300 kilograms of therapeutic protein pharmaceutical active ingredient per year. iBio applies its technology for the benefit of its clients and the advancement of its own product interests. The Company’s pipeline is comprised of proprietary candidates for the treatment of a range of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and scleroderma. IBIO-CFB03, based on the Company's proprietary gene expression technology, is the Company’s lead therapeutic candidate being advanced for IND development.

Further information is available at:  www.ibioinc.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE RELATED TO IBIO, INC. MAY CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH STATEMENTS INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES SUCH AS COMPETITIVE FACTORS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, MARKET DEMAND, AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN NEW CONTRACTS AND ACCURATELY ESTIMATE NET REVENUES DUE TO VARIABILITY IN SIZE, SCOPE AND DURATION OF PROJECTS. FURTHER INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPANY'S REPORTS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

ICR, Inc. (Investor and Media Inquiries):

Stephanie Carrington
Tel. +1 646-277-1282
Stephanie.Carrington@icrinc.com

Released September 20, 2017