KaloBios Comments on Recent Scientific Publication Reporting Significantly Higher Risk of Death Associated With Chagas Infection

BRISBANE, Calif., May 25, 2017 -- KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC:KBIO), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing medicines for patients with neglected and rare diseases, today commented on a recent publication by independent investigators in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that found a significantly increased risk of death in people infected with Chagas disease assessed from blood donor records.

Those testing positive, based on the presence of antibodies to the parasite that causes Chagas disease, had 2.3 times higher risk of death from all causes and 17.9 times higher risk of death from cardiac issues related to Chagas than those who did not have Chagas disease, according to the published paper, “Mortality among blood donors seropositive and seronegative for Chagas disease (1996-2000) in São Paulo, Brazil: A death certificate linkage study.”

Cameron Durrant, MD, chairman and CEO of KaloBios, said:

“The PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases paper highlights how dangerous Chagas disease can be, particularly in the asymptomatic indeterminate phase. These are startling numbers: almost 18 times higher risk of dying from Chagas-related cardiac issues, and at least twice as likely to die from all causes compared with people who did not test positive for Chagas. Chagas is an insidious, silent killer that demands our attention here and abroad. An estimated 300,000 people in the United States are infected with Chagas disease. The paper also concludes that earlier treatment with known medicines could help to save lives and lower this excess risk of death. Findings like these should serve as a clarion call for us to get available treatments to the right patients at the right time. It’s possible we can help prevent people from dying – in Latin America as well as the U.S.”

About KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC:KBIO) is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing medicines for patients with neglected and rare diseases through innovative and responsible business models. Lead compounds in the KaloBios portfolio are benznidazole for the potential treatment of Chagas disease in the U.S., and the proprietary monoclonal antibodies, lenzilumab and ifabotuzumab. Lenzilumab has potential for treatment of various rare diseases, including hematologic cancers such as chronic myelomoncytic leukemia (CMML) and potentially juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). For more information, visit www.kalobios.com.

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