AZUSA, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Feb 5, 2008 -- Viral Genetics, Inc. (Other OTC:VRAL.PK - News), a biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that it has made additional progress in its research as a result of the recent acquisition of technology developed by Dr. Karen Newell at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (for complete details of the licensing transaction see the Company's press release and Form 8-K of December 20, 2007).

The Company has preliminarily identified proteins in its experimental HIV/AIDS drug, VGV-1, that fit the model developed by Dr. Newell. This identification would be important because the model, described more fully below, could explain how VGV-1 has worked in past human clinical trials and allow for it to be improved or "optimized." The Company is focused on the optimization of VGV-1 prior to the next round of human clinical trials, and it is a step that will be required before approaching the FDA.

"The ability to predict the active component from VGV-1 was predicted by our model prior to the license and, while further studies will be required to conclusively verify it, it represents a significant first step in tying together my research with the Company's experimental HIV/AIDS drug," said Dr. Newell. As further studies are completed in this area, the Company will provide additional updates.

The Company remains focused on the HIV/AIDS applications of VGV-1 but research continues to generate information warranting study of the compound for treatment of other conditions, such as Hepatitis C, Herpes, and other diseases. Additional study of these lines of research will be dependent on the availability of funding.

Dr. Newell's model relates to turning the immune system up or down, and to causing a process called apoptosis using small protein fragments to replace other "bad" protein fragments that have been picked up by immune cells. These so-called bad proteins sometimes result from the body's natural attempts to fight off viruses, bacteria, and various diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Apoptosis is the body's process of killing off harmful cells, and control (or lack or control) over this process is believed to be an important factor in the control of a variety of illnesses.

A key area of the research is that certain of these harmful proteins result in a harmful immune response that may not only hurt a person's ability to fight off an illness, but perhaps even cause certain autoimmune diseases. As a result, Dr. Newell developed a computer model that could predict the types of compounds that could displace these harmful proteins, restore control over apoptosis of certain cells, and allow the immune system to respond more beneficially.

Dr. Newell is Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Colorado. A more detailed bio is available on the Viral Genetics website at www.viralgenetics.com.

In a 2005-2006 study, a reduction of HIV viral load was observed in a subset of patients after treatment with VGV-1 versus patients receiving placebo. As reported by Dr. Patrick Bouic in the Company's poster presentation at the 2006 XVI International AIDS Conference, VGV-1 treated subjects also demonstrated apparent beneficial immunological changes when compared with placebo.

About VGV-1

VGV-1 is a therapy based on thymus nuclear protein that is extracted from bovine thymus tissue. As a type of immune-based therapy, it focuses on boosting the immune system to allow the body to fight HIV more efficiently. Thymus nuclear protein technology has been studied in five human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.

About Viral Genetics

Viral Genetics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS using its thymus nuclear protein compound. This compound may have other potential applications for other infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency diseases that the company intends to study in the future. Viral Genetics believes that VGV-1 represents a unique approach to treating HIV due to the apparently novel mechanism, low toxicity profile, simple dosing regimen, and short-course of treatment. Online at 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 filed with the SEC. VGV-1 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of VGV-1 in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of VGV-1 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, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests. 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.

     For additional information, please contact:
     Viral Genetics
     626-334-5310