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Media Contact:
Lorie Calvo
425-608-3008
lcalvo@nwbio.com
Northwest Biotherapeutics Publishes Preclinical Data on DCVax®-Direct which Enhances Dendritic Cell Function and Immune Response
Bothell, Washington - Thursday October 23, 2003 - Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NWBT.OB) today announced the publication of one of the cornerstones of the Company's new approach to cancer immunotherapy: DCVax®-Direct. The publication, entitled "Interferon-gamma Added During Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Induced Dendritic Cell Maturation Stimulates Potent Th1 Immune Responses" by Drs. Shankar, Pestano and Bosch was published in the Journal of Translational Biology on October 10, 2003. The paper describes a method for the activation of dendritic cells to be used in cancer immunotherapy, which ensures stimulating the correct type of immune response believed to be critical in immune-based therapies.
This paper complements an earlier publication, "Dendritic Cells Efficiently Acquire and Present Antigen Derived from Lung Cancer Cells and Induce Antigen-Specific T-Cell Responses" by Drs. Zhou, McEarchern, Bosch and coworkers, published in the July 2003 issue of Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, which described the functionality of the dendritic cells in taking up cancer cells and presenting them to the immune system for subsequent destruction.
Together, these two papers describe the foundation of DCVax®-Direct, i.e. the use of activated dendritic cells for direct injection into the tumor. Dr. Marnix Bosch, senior author on the papers and Vice President for Vaccine R&D at Northwest Biotherapeutics describes this treatment as follows: "DCVax®-Direct is primarily intended to be used together with standard treatment in advanced cancer cases for which often no other treatment options are available and where life expectancy is limited. DCVax®-Direct is designed to increase treatment efficacy by clearing surviving tumor cells and helping to prevent tumor recurrence. We believe that the low side-effects generally associated with dendritic cell therapy should make this additional treatment option attractive to patients and physicians." Pending the receipt of adequate funding, clinical trials of DCVax®-Direct are scheduled to begin in 2004.
About Northwest Biotherapeutics
Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing immunotherapy products that safely generate and enhance immune system responses to effectively treat cancer. The Company's strategy is to combine its expertise in dendritic cell biology, immunology and antigen discovery with its proprietary technologies to develop cancer therapies. The Company's lead product candidate, DCVax®-Prostate has completed Phase I/II clinical trials. As part of its strategy, it is further developing diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies against its proprietary cancer targets and it is continuing refinement of its next generation system for cost effectively producing high purity dendritic cells and dendritic cell precursors for potential new cancer products.
Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Specifically, there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as the Company's ability to raise additional capital, the timely performance of third parties and the Company's recent cost-cutting initiatives and the direct and indirect consequences of those initiatives. Additional information on these and other factors, which could affect the Company's results, are included in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws.
DCVax® is a registered trademark of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. All rights are reserved.
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