PolyMedix Antibiotic Studies Accepted For Presentation At ICAAC

RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PolyMedix, Inc. (OTCBB:PYMX), a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutic drugs to treat patients with serious acute-care conditions, today announced that six abstracts were accepted for presentation at the 52 ^nd Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco, CA, September 9-12, 2012. In addition, PolyMedix will participate in an oral symposium. The presentations will be on PolyMedix's defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds in development, including results from a Phase 2 clinical study with PolyMedix's lead defensin-mimetic, brilacidin (PMX-30063), in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph aureus bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA).

PolyMedix will present at an oral symposium on nonpeptidic mimics of host defense peptides:

1. "Host Defense (Antimicrobial) Peptides: Major Players in Health and Novel Therapeutics." September 10, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PDT, Esplanade Ballroom 300. Oral Symposium.

   Abstracts to be presented include:

2. Presentation #L1-1662: "A Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blinded, Dose-Ranging, Active Controlled Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of PMX-30063 for the Treatment of Acute Skin & Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) Caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA)." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.  
3. Presentation #F-1494: "Nonpeptidic Mimics of Host Defense Proteins as Antimicrobial Agents for E. coli O 104:H4, Campylobacter spp. and Other Foodborne Pathogens." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.  
4. Presentation #E-1474: "Activity of PMX-30063 Against Drug Resistant Staphylococci." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.  
5. Presentation #F-1495: "Nonpeptidic Mimics of Host Defense Proteins as Antimicrobial Agents for Category A and B Biowarfare Pathogens." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.   
6. Presentation #F-1493: "Small, Nonpeptidic Mimics of Host Defense Proteins Exhibit Potent Killing Activity Against Gram-positive and Gram-negative Biofilm Cultures." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.  
7. Presentation #A-1284: "Metabolism and Excretion of PMX-30063: A Novel Class of Antibiotics." September 11, 2012, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. PDT, Halls A-C. Poster presentation.

About PolyMedix, Inc.

PolyMedix is a clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the treatment of infectious diseases. PolyMedix is developing a new class of antibiotics – defensin-mimetics – for the treatment of serious, life-threatening infections which often develop resistance to currently available antibiotics. PolyMedix's compounds are designed to imitate the mechanism of action of host defense proteins, which contribute to natural human immunity. In contrast to existing antibiotics, brilacidin was designed to exploit a method of bacterial cell killing, via biophysical membrane attack, against which bacteria have not shown development of resistance in multiple preclinical studies. Brilacidin (formerly PMX-30063), our lead antibiotic compound, showed efficacy similar to an active control, and was safely administered in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph aureus bacteria (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)). PolyMedix is planning to initiate a Phase 2B dose optimization study with brilacidin in ABSSSI patients. PolyMedix is also developing brilacidin as a topical treatment for oral mucositis, a common and often debilitating complication of cancer treatments.

PolyMedix has internally developed an extensive pipeline of products including other defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds for other infectious diseases such as Gram-negative pathogens, fungal infections, and malaria; PolyCides ^®, antimicrobial additives to materials to create self-sterilizing products and surfaces; and delparantag (formerly PMX-60056), an anticoagulant reversing agent. PolyMedix's compounds have been internally discovered using a proprietary drug design technology.

For more information, please visit our website at www.polymedix.com .

The PolyMedix, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10449 

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause PolyMedix's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward looking statements. PolyMedix has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are PolyMedix's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital to fund its operations, planned clinical trials and research and development, and the fact that PolyMedix's compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in PolyMedix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. PolyMedix undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

CONTACT: Lisa Caperelli
         Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
         484-598-2406
         [e-mail]