GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDI) and Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) today announced
preclinical results demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel therapeutic
vaccine technology in suppressing the growth of certain tumors. These results
will be presented today at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association
for Cancer Research (AACR) in Orlando, Florida at 8:00 a.m. eastern time. The
associated AACR poster is entitled "Recombinant Listeria monocytogenes-Based
Immunotherapy Targeting the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase EphA2."
"Previous research has indicated that we may be able to promote selective
destruction of tumor cells while minimizing the damage to normal cells using
EphA2 antibodies," said Peter Kiener, D.Phil., vice president, research at
MedImmune. "These new data reveal that we also may one day apply new
bacteria-mediated strategies for treating or preventing the many cancers that
express the EphA2 protein, including breast and colon cancer."
To evaluate the effects of a Listeria-mediated vaccine technology,
MedImmune and Cerus scientists implanted mice with tumors and then treated
them with Listeria strains that had been genetically engineered to trigger an
immune response directed at the EphA2 protein. Protective immunization with
Listeria-huEphA2 significantly suppressed tumor growth in this study and
prolonged survival for treated mice. Importantly, 80 percent of the Listeria-
huEphA2-treated mice survived for greater than 43 days following tumor
implantation whereas untreated controls had a median survival time of
approximately 20 days.
"This research demonstrates the potential to develop potent therapeutic
vaccines utilizing our proprietary Listeria vaccine platform in combination
with cancer antigens such as EphA2," said Stephen T. Isaacs, president and
chief executive officer, Cerus Corporation. "Our vaccine platform is designed
to encourage the stimulation of the patient's immune system to selectively
recognize and destroy tumor cells expressing the targeted antigen."
About EphA2 & MedImmune, Inc.
EphA2 is a protein overexpressed by many different types of human cancers,
including melanoma (skin cancer), and breast, lung, prostate and colon
cancers. The highest levels of EphA2 have been found on the most aggressive
cancer cells, which is consistent with evidence linking EphA2 with clinical
features of metastasis. Research to date indicates that EphA2 functions
differently on malignant cells than it does on normal cells, and that these
differences may help facilitate the selective targeting of cancer cells while
minimizing unwanted toxicities to normal cells.
MedImmune is a leading biotechnology company focused on researching,
developing and commercializing products to prevent or treat infectious
disease, autoimmune disease and cancer. MedImmune actively markets four
products, Synagis(R) (palivizumab), Ethyol(R) (amifostine), FluMist(TM)
(Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal), and CytoGam(R) (cytomegalovirus
immune globulin intravenous (human)), and has additional products in clinical
testing. MedImmune employs approximately 1,800 people, is headquartered in
Gaithersburg, Maryland, and has additional operations in Frederick, Maryland,
as well as Pennsylvania, California, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
For more information on MedImmune and its products, as well as for full
product prescribing information, visit the company's website at
www.medimmune.com.
About Listeria Vaccine Program & Cerus
Cerus Corporation is developing novel technologies to provide safer and
more effective options to patients in areas with substantial unmet medical
needs. Cerus' proprietary, versatile vaccine platform technology is based on
specially engineered strains of the intracellular bacterium Listeria
monocytogenes. Cerus scientists have demonstrated that proprietary strains of
Listeria are capable of inducing potent immune responses in laboratory tests.
The combination of proprietary strains of Listeria with specific cancer
antigens has the potential to harness the power of the immune system to
selectively attack malignant cells. Additionally, Cerus is further developing
its vaccine platform technology by combining it with its Helinx(R) technology
to develop potentially safe and potent therapies and vaccines for infectious
disease.
Cerus' most advanced program is the INTERCEPT Blood System, designed to
enhance the safety of the world's blood supply by inactivating viruses,
bacteria, other pathogens and white blood cells. The INTERCEPT Blood System,
which is being developed in collaboration with subsidiaries of Baxter
International Inc., is based on the company's Helinx technology for
controlling biological replication.
Helinx is a trademark of Cerus Corporation
INTERCEPT and INTERCEPT Blood are trademarks of Baxter International Inc.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
including statements concerning potential safety and efficacy of products
under development. Such statements reflect the current views of management of
the respective companies and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results
could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a
number of factors, including risks and uncertainties discussed in the
companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Each
company is developing several products for potential future marketing. There
can be no assurance that the results of future clinical trials will be
favorable, that such development efforts will succeed, that such products will
receive required regulatory clearance or that, even if such regulatory
clearance were received, such products would ultimately achieve commercial
success.
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.; Cerus Corporation
-0- 03/29/2004
/CONTACT: Media: Jamie Lacey, +1-301-398-4035, or Investors: John Filler,
+1-301-398-4086, both of MedImmune, Inc.; or Investors & Media: Alexandra
Santos of Cerus Corporation, +1-925-288-6156/
/Web site: http://www.medimmune.com/
(MEDI CERS)
CO: MedImmune, Inc.; Cerus Corporation; American Association for Cancer
Research; AACR
ST: Maryland, Florida
IN: MTC HEA BIO
SU: TDS SVY
MV-CD
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