ROCKVILLE, Md., July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx"), a clinical-stage drug development company focused on tissue protection, repair and regeneration, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent covering the administration of Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) to improve neurological outcome after neurological injury and neurodegenerative disease, including stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI).  The intellectual property was developed at the Henry Ford Hospital System, Detroit, Michigan, by Drs. Michael Chopp, Daniel Morris, and Zhenggang Zhang, and in-licensed by RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.  The patent expiry is 2030, not including any potential extensions.

"We believe that this is an important patent and a significant addition to our central nervous system (CNS) intellectual property portfolio," said J.J. Finkelstein, RegeneRx's president and chief executive officer. "We expect that our proprietary technology will be further enhanced as we identify strategic partners with whom we can continue the development of RGN-352, our systemic formulation of TB4 to treat CNS disorders."

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)

RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, cardiac and dermal indications, three active strategic licensing agreements in China, Pan Asia (Korea, Japan, and Australia, among others) and the U.S., and has an extensive worldwide patent portfolio covering its products.  RGN-259, the Company's TB4-based ophthalmic drug candidate, has been designated an orphan drug for the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), which is a primary focus of RegeneRx's clinical development efforts in the U.S through its joint venture, ReGenTree.  RegeneRx was recently allowed by the FDA to move into Phase 3 clinical trials with RGN-259 for the treatment of patients with NK.  RGN-352, the Company's TB4-based injectable drug candidate, is a Phase 2-ready drug candidate designed to be administered systemically to prevent and restore tissue damage associated with acute events such as heart attacks, strokes, and other similar injuries. For additional information about RegeneRx please visit www.regenerx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  There can be no assurance that any issued patents or licenses held by the Company or patent applications filed by the Company, including this most recent patent allowance for the treatment of CNS disorders, in the U.S. or any other country will result in approved products or future value.  Please view these and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.