SAN MARINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

VG Energy, the majority-owned subsidiary of Viral Genetics (Pink Sheets: VRAL), has entered into an agreement with UniQuest Pty. Ltd., the commercialization arm of the University of Queensland, Australia, tooptimize the use of Metabolic Disruption Technology (MDT) compounds in algae lipid production. Optimization will occur through experiments leading to the identification of the ideal concentration, timing and amount of MDT compounds to use. The multi-part study will begin with ten of the most commercially-viable algae strains in their optimized production environments, and narrow the set down to one, top-responding strain. The study is intended to guide the subsequent design of advanced commercialization and scale-up studies using the optimized strain, production method and dosing. VG Energy researchers have shown in multiple studies to produce a 10%-300% increase in the lipids produced by various strains of algae and other plant sources that can potentially be distilled into biofuel, and other high value oils for the food, cosmetics and nutraceuticals industries.

The project will be carried out by Associate Professor Ben Hankamer of the University of Queenslands Institute for Molecular Bioscience via its main commercialization company, UniQuest Pty. Ltd. (http://www.uniquest.com.au) and is expected to take several months. Ben Hankamer is the director of the Solar Biofuels Consortium, which brings together seven international teams and approximately 100 researchers (www.solarbiofuels.org) working on biofuels and production optimization. The consortium fosters close partnerships with industries that have synergy to establish effective value chains including the biotechnology, engineering, oil, airline and manufacturing industries.

Monica Ord, Viral Genetics Senior VP of Corporate Development commented, saying, We arethrilled to be working with UniQuest, Solar BiofuelsConsortium and Professor Ben Hankamer. Their production processes, scientists and technology are some of the highest quality available today. This opportunitygives us the capability toaccess input froma consortiumofresearchers and uniqueprocesses to bringourproduct to theoptimal level. We are very grateful to David White of Virgin Australia formaking theintroduction toProfessor Hankamerseven months ago.Since that time we have completedadditional internal studies andhave successfully finalized the protocols for this analysis, which will help move us along to the next step toward commercialization of the product. We are excited to get started.

About VG Energy

VG Energy, Inc. is an alternative energy and agricultural biotech company that is a majority-owned subsidiary of Viral Genetics Inc., a biotechnology company researching new treatments and methods of detection for diseases including cancer, HIV/AIDS and others. Using its Metabolic Disruption Technology (MDT), Viral Genetics cancer research led to discoveries with major consequences in a wide variety of other industries, including biofuel and vegetable oils. VG Energy holds the exclusive worldwide license to the MDT patent rights for use in the increase of production of various plant-derived oils from algae and seeds. These pivotal discoveries promise to allow the biofuel industry to overcome its major obstacle in the area of production efficiency: namely, an increase in production yields leading to feasible economic returns on investment, allowing renewable biodiesel to be competitive with fossil fuels. For more information, please visit http://www.vgenergy.net.

About Viral Genetics, Inc.

San Marino, California-based Viral Genetics discovers drug therapies from two platform technologies based on over 60 patents: Metabolic Disruption (MDT) and Targeted Peptides (TPT). Founded in 1994, the biotech company is researching treatments for HIV/AIDS, Lyme Disease, Strep, Staph and drug resistant cancer. A majority-owned subsidiary, VG Energy (www.vgenergy.net), is dedicated to exploring biofuel and agricultural applications for the MDT platform. For more information, visit http://www.viralgenetics.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports, including statements about its VG Energy, Inc. subsidiary. None of Viral Genetics' drug compounds are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world, nor are any non-pharmaceutical products of VG Energy, Inc. commercialized. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of any of its drug therapies in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of those drug compounds in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, the successful outcome of such studies or tests, or the successful commercialization of VG Energy, Inc.s non-pharmaceutical products. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.

Read the original here:
VG Energy to Optimize Algae “Lipid Trigger” Compound with Leading Biofuel Researcher

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