Bristol-Myers Squibb-Sponsored Partnering for Cure(TM) Program Names Three European Award Winners for Research Projects Focused on Cure in Viral Diseases

Paris (ots/PRNewswire) -

First-ever, Europe-wide scientific initiative designed to
accelerate virology clinical research & transform clinical outcomes
for patients

Three European virology researchers were awarded research grants
this week based on their proposed research projects to investigate
novel ways to cure viral diseases. The award-winners were chosen by
an independent, expert faculty as part of the Partnering for
Cure(TM)Program, a first-of-its kind, Europe-wide initiative. The
program, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, is designed to accelerate
innovative scientific research that could lead to cure in viral
diseases, namely HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).
Partnering for Cure(TM) was launched by a faculty of independent
virology experts with the shared goals of supporting breakthrough
research and facilitating greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing
with the virology clinical community.

"While significant advances have been made in virology over recent
years, there is more work to be done to be able one day to cure
chronic infectious diseases such as HIV, HBV and HCV," commented
Christine Katlama, Partnering for Cure Faculty Chair, Hôpital
Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris. "The Partnering for Cure initiative is
tackling this head-on - joining with the clinical community to
support research that will bring us even closer to our ultimate hope
of a potential 'cure'."

"We are proud to announce the selected investigators of the first
Partnering for Cure research initiative," said George Hanna, MD, vice
president, HIV Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Bristol-Myers
Squibb has been a leader in virology for many years and we remain
committed to supporting breakthrough research and education in
virology with the goal of providing a forum for discussion of
emerging science on the nature of chronic viral infections."

The winners of the research grants chosen in a blind evaluation by
the Partnering for Cure Faculty are:

- Matthieu Perreau, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) Service
Immunologie et Allergie, Switzerland Identification of the memory CD4 T-cell
population(s) harbouring replication competent HIV-1 within lymphoid tissues
- Ruxandra Calin, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hôpital
Pitié-Salpêtrière, France Comprehensive analysis of HIV reservoirs in chronically
infected HIV-1 treated patients with a low total cell-associated blood HIV-DNA
- Valentina Svicher, AVIRALIA Foundation, Italy
Identification and functional characterisation of genetic elements in HBV genome
correlated with HBV reactivation driven by immunosuppression

Partnering for Cure has been developed and led by a European
faculty of independent virology experts from across Europe, including
Germany, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the
UK with the support of Bristol-Myers Squibb research and development
staff.

The objectives of Partnering for Cure are to:

- Provide medical education to physicians interested in virology
- Provide support to researchers active in virology
- Provide a forum for physicians and researchers to discuss advances in virology
towards cure

The Partnering for Cure initiative reinforces Bristol-Myers
Squibb's commitment in virology, which is rooted in the company's
legacy in virology and ongoing research in HIV and viral hepatitis.
Chronic viral infections make a substantial contribution to the
burden of chronic diseases and premature mortality worldwide. In
December 2012, the Global Burden of Disease Study reported 1,465,000
deaths caused by HIV/AIDS and 1,445,000 deaths caused by viral
hepatitis in 2010.[i] Infections with hepatitis B and C viruses also
cause an estimated 57 percent of cases of liver cirrhosis and 78
percent of cases of primary liver cancer annually.[ii] Whilst
important advances have been made over the last decade significant
unmet needs and the opportunity for cure remains, particularly in
HIV.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Commitment to Virology

For over 20 years, Bristol-Myers Squibb has worked collaboratively
with the virology community to help meet the needs of patients living
with this disease - from developing medicines, supporting disease
education efforts and clinical research, and improving access to
medicines in the developing world.

Like Partnering for Cure(TM), Bristol-Myers Squibb supports a
number of scientific and educational programs within the virology
community around the world that encompass disease education, disease
awareness and sharing of best practices. These include SHE (Strong,
HIV positive, Empowered Women / Strong, HIV positive Women
Educational Programme), a comprehensive and innovative programme for
women living with HIV and their healthcare providers, PATH B(R)
(Patients and professionals acting together for hepatitis B), a joint
initiative between hepatitis patient groups and hepatologists to
provide comprehensive information and support for patients with
chronic hepatitis B.

Additionally, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's philanthropic and
educational programs, such as Secure the Future(R) and Delivering
Hope(R) aim to support people living with HIV in Africa and with
viral hepatitis in Asia, through numerous private-public partnerships
and community based projects.

References

i. Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, The Lancet, Volume 380,
No9859, Dec 15, 2012, p2053-2260

ii. WHO and WHA, Global Policy Report on the Prevention and
Control of Viral Hepatitis, 2013,
http://global-report.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/home.html

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Contact:
Media: Jeff Smith, +33(0)6-03-99-40-18, JR.Smith@bms.com