PRINCETON, N.J., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunomedics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMMU)
announced today that a presentation was made at the International Conference
on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy on the use of a novel method to
genetically-engineer cancer patients' T-lymphocytes as cancer-killing immune
cells. The work was a collaboration between Harvard Medical School faculty
and scientists from Immunomedics.
According to Dr. Richard Junghans, Director of the Biotherapeutics
Development Lab at the Harvard Institute of Human Genetics, who is the lead
investigator of this work, "We have succeeded in inserting the gene
controlling the antigen-binding region of Immunomedics' humanized antibody
against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) into T-lymphocytes of colorectal cancer
patients. The selective targeting and killing of cancer cells outside the
body has been demonstrated. We are now conducting a Phase I trial in cancer
patients to determine the feasibility of this method."
In a statement by Dr. Hans J. Hansen, Vice President of Research and
Development at Immunomedics: "Dr. Junghans showed that this new "designer
T-cell" immunotherapy can result in binding and toxicity to cancer cells
studied in the laboratory, even when high amounts of CEA, which can be present
in the blood of some patients, are added to the system. This suggests that
this method has a good prospect of succeeding in selectively killing
CEA-expressing cancer cells in patients."
"The ongoing clinical studies will determine the safety and efficacy of
this method, which involves the modification of a patient's own lymphocytes to
selectively target to their cancer," Dr. Hansen added.
Immunomedics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development,
manufacture and commercialization of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic
products for the detection and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
Integral to these products are highly specific monoclonal antibodies and
antibody fragments designed to deliver radioisotopes and chemotherapeutic
agents to tumors and sites of infection. The Company's first product,
CEA-Scan(R) for the detection of colorectal cancer, is being marketed in the
United States and Europe (approved in Canada). The Company's second
diagnostic imaging product, LeukoScan(R), is being marketed in Europe for the
diagnosis of osteomyelitis (bone infection). Immunomedics also has several
other diagnostic imaging products and three therapeutic products in clinical
trials.
This release, in addition to historical information, contains
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed
or implied herein. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are
not limited to, risks associated with new product development (including
clinical trials outcome and regulatory requirements/actions), competitive
risks to marketed products and availability of financing and other sources of
capital, as well as the risks discussed in the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 1999.
Company Contact: Cynthia L. Sullivan, Executive Vice President,
973-605-8200, extension 109. Visit the company's web site at
http://www.Immunomedics.com.
SOURCE Immunomedics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.Immunomedics.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/113121.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 113121
CONTACT:
Cynthia L. Sullivan, Executive Vice President
of Immunomedics, 973-605-8200, ext. 109
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