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PRESS RELEASE
March 10, 2010, 8:00 a.m. EST · Recommend · Post:
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics' Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine Demonstrates Statistically Significant Increase in Survival in an Animal Model of Glioblastoma
LOS ANGELES, Mar 10, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (OTC.BB: IMUC) announced today that its dendritic cell-based vaccination with cancer stem cells (CSCs) demonstrated a statistically significant survival benefit in a preclinical animal model of glioblastoma. The rats were either immunized with cancer stem cells (CSCs) from a brain cancer tumor or the daughter cells (the bulk of the tumor), and results showed that those immunized with the CSCs had a median survival of 50 days compared to 29 days for daughter cells. Furthermore, 30% of animals vaccinated against cancer stem cells demonstrated long term survival as compared to animals vaccinated with the bulk of the tumor, all of which died.
"We are excited by the study's results, as it represents a significant step forward in the continued development of our cancer stem cell based vaccines," said Dr. Manish Singh , PhD., President and CEO of ImmunoCellular Therapeutics. "The data further validates our research indicating that targeting CSCs has the potential to be a highly effective method of treating various cancers." The data also demonstrated increased Gamma-Interferon levels in animals treated with CSCs, indicating an increased immune response consistent with increase in survival further supporting the mechanism of action of this approach
The Company's recently completed Phase I trial of its lead cancer vaccination product candidate ICT-107, an active immunotherapy developed from studies conducted by ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, showed that targeting certain specific antigens that are highly expressed on cancer stem cells (CSCs) can lead to significant benefit in progression free survival as well as overall survival in glioblastoma patients
About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
IMUC is a Los Angeles-based clinical-stage company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers. The Company recently completed a Phase I trial of its lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for glioblastoma. The Company is planning to initiate a multicenter Phase II study in the second half of 2010. The Company's "off the shelf" vaccine product candidate (ICT-121) targeting cancer stem cells for multiple cancer indications is targeted by IMUC to enter clinical trials for glioblastoma during the second half of 2010. IMUC has entered into a research and license option deal with the Roche Group for one of the Company's monoclonal antibody product candidates for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer and multiple myeloma, which provides for potential licensing and milestone payments of $32MM and royalties if the Roche Group exercises its option and commercializes this antibody technology for multiple indications. IMUC is in pre-clinical development of another monoclonal antibody product candidate for the treatment of small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, and is also evaluating its platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery to target cancer stem cells. To learn more about IMUC, please visit www.imuc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the risks associated with the potential inability to obtain licenses from third parties that will be needed to commercialize ICT-107 in many major commercial territories; the potential inability to secure a partner to fund development and marketing of ICT-107; the risk that pre-clinical animal models testing CSCs are not validated in clinical testing; the risk that future trials of ICT-107, if any, do not confirm the safety and efficacy data generated in the Phase I trial; the uncertainty of outcomes in developing cancer treatments based on destroying cancer stem cells; the need to satisfy performance milestones to maintain the vaccine technology licenses with Cedars-Sinai; the risks associated with obtaining a patent that provides commercially significant protection for ICT-107; and the need for substantial additional capital to fund development of product candidates beyond their initial clinical or pre-clinical stages and to continue IMUC's operations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in IMUC's most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and any current reports on Form 8-K. IMUC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE: ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
CEOcast, Inc. for ImmunoCellular Therapeutics
Gary Nash, 212-732-4300