Hawaii Biotech Among 'Five to Watch' by Thomson Reuters

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HAWAII BIOTECH AMONG FIVE TO WATCH BY THOMSON REUTERS

(HONOLULU, Nov. 17, 2008) - Hawaii Biotech Inc.'s vaccine for West Nile virus was named one of five "most promising drugs entering Phase I trials" by Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. (NYSE:TRI;TSX:TRI; LSE:TRIL; NASDAQ:TRIN)

The Honolulu-based biotechnology company initiated its Phase 1 clinical trial study with its West Nile vaccine candidate, a recombinant sub-unit vaccine, in May 2008. The study, conducted with healthy subjects, is the first clinical trial for Hawaii Biotech, Inc.

In its most recent Thomson Pharma® Pharma Matters report, "Ones To Watch," Thomson Reuters said the FDA's decision to allow human trials for the vaccine is "a huge win for Hawaii Biotech, giving them a chance to prove their technology to the scientific community." Thomson Pharma® is the pharmaceutical data source for Thomson Reuters.

West Nile virus (WNV), carried by birds and spread by mosquitoes, can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease. Once infected, even without showing any symptoms, an individual can pass the disease through blood transfusion, organ transplant, via the uterus and by breast feeding. There is no existing vaccine for human use.

The most serious manifestation of WNV infection is fatal encephalitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of WNV infections in humans have been reported in all states except Hawaii, Alaska and Maine. WNV has been reported in Europe, west and central Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and since 1999, in North America. Since it entered the United States, there are some 25, 000 cases on record, and more than 1,000 deaths.

For information on Thomson Reuters, go to http://www.thomsonreuters.com

About Hawaii Biotech, Inc. Hawaii Biotech, Hawaii's oldest and largest biotech company, is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the re search and development of prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases. Hawaii Biotech has developed a proprietary protein production platform that has application to the production of proteins for use as antigens in infectious disease vaccines. In addition to its work on a West Nile vaccine, the company is also developing a vaccine for dengue virus and has a pipeline which includes vaccine candidates for malaria, tick borne encephalitis virus, and influenza . For more information, please visit: http://www.hibiotech.com.