Biotech company Pharming Group N.V. ("Pharming" or "the Company") (Euronext: PHARM) (PHARM.AS) announced today results from three studies which demonstrate that human lactoferrin produced by Pharming (rhLF) can be considered safe for use in functional foods.
Dr. Bertjan Ziere, Senior Director at Pharming, presented the results at the VII International Conference on Lactoferrin (October 16-19, 2005) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pharming has performed a large panel of studies to evaluate the safety of its human lactoferrin in concordance with US regulatory guidelines for GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) notification. The toxicity studies conducted demonstrate that rhLF can be consumed orally at high amounts with no adverse effect. Furthermore, results from genotoxicity tests were presented showing that rhLF does not cause any damage to cells or DNA within cells. Finally, allergenicity testing revealed that rhLF is not irritating.

"We are pleased to be announcing these positive results with our rhLF at such an authoritative congress on lactoferrin," said Dr. Frans de Loos, Director of the lactoferrin project at Pharming. "The data from these studies will form the core elements of our US FDA filing for rhLF as a GRAS product for use in functional foods."

Pharming is preparing a filing on human lactoferrin for a GRAS notification. Recently, the Company formed a partnership with AgResearch for the development of rhLF. Pharming is pursuing additional partnerships to commercialize rhLF for use in functional foods.