Burzynski Research Institute Gets SPA Clearance from the FDA to Initiate Pivotal Phase III Trial of Combination Antineoplaston Therapy and Radiation Therapy

"We are very pleased by our agreement with the FDA to move forward with a confirmatory study on a type of tumor that has shown itself to be highly treatment resistant and challenged further by severely limited treatment options and clinical trials that could expand and discover new, efficacious therapies," said Stanislaw R. Burzynski, M.D., Ph.D. "The SPA agreement puts antineoplaston therapy further down a straight path to regulatory approval, enabling the kind of study that should prove its merits as another option to cancer management."

"BRI has reached this important milestone independently without financial backing from the government, and without a major pharmaceutical partner--a unique accomplishment in the oncology field. From inception, we have been committed to developing a targeted gene therapy option that is less aggressive on the body than conventional therapies and have made considerable progress on the steps mandated by the FDA to bring a new drug to a patient community and cancer type that has unmet needs."

About the Phase III study

The primary objective of this randomized study is to compare overall survival of children with newly-diagnosed diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma (DBSG) who receive combination antineoplaston therapy [Antineoplastons A10 (Atengenal) and AS2-1 (Astugenal)] plus radiation therapy (RT) versus RT alone.

DBSG are considered to be one of the most difficult types of cancer to treat. It combines highly malignant characteristics with the very difficult location of the brainstem. DBSG are inoperable because they involve most of the brainstem (diffuse and intrinsic). The number of children in the U.S. with brainstem gliomas is approximately 660. Absent treatment, the survival rate from time of diagnosis is six months or less.

At present, there are no standard curative treatments for the disease. RT is the only treatment that may slow its progress, but at two years 93% of children with this type of cancer die, and none of them survive for five years. Other conventional treatments such as chemotherapy have generally been tried in clinical trials but are shown to be ineffective. There are no pharmacological treatments approved for DBSG at this time.

Burzynski Research Institute, Inc. (OTCBB: BZYR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing treatment for cancer based on genomic and epigenomic principles.

Research and development efforts are focused on basic ANP research and 19 Phase II clinical trials.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. Burzynski Research Institute, Inc. cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based on current expectations and is subject to change, and future events may differ materially from those discussed herein due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to BRI's ability to obtain regulatory approval for Antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1, risks associated with BRI's ability to raise sufficient capital from the development of its technology towards commercialization, and other risks described in BRI's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BRI does not undertake to update any such forward- looking statements or to publicly announce developments or events relating to the matters described herein.

SOURCE: The Burzynski Research Institute, Inc.

Media: Burzynski Research Institute, Inc. Darlene Hodge, 713-335-5636 Darlene@burzynskiclinic.com or Carolyn Powers, 713-335-5664 Carolyn@burzynskiclinic.com or Amanda Cheslock, 212-446-1884 acheslock@sloanepr.com