- Clinical Results Accepted for Presentation at Upcoming AAN Meeting -
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Immune Response
Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR), a biopharmaceutical company developing immune-
based therapies (IBT) for HIV and select other diseases, announced today the
awarding of an Immune Tolerance Network grant which will provide the funding
for continued research on NeuroVax(TM), an experimental therapy to treat
multiple sclerosis (MS). NeuroVax(TM) is a T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide
vaccine designed to treat MS through an immunological mechanism of action.
Clinical research from a recently completed Phase II study leading to this
award has been accepted for presentation at the 54th annual meeting of the
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) to be held in late April in San Francisco,
CA.
"The grant will allow us to continue to develop NeuroVax(TM) without
diverting resources from our HIV clinical program," said John N. Bonfiglio
Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of The Immune Response Corporation. "The
technology behind NeuroVax(TM) adds depth to our pipeline and provides
opportunities to partner these products in the future. We are delighted that
our abstract on the data leading to this award was accepted for an oral
presentation at the prestigious AAN meeting. We believe our immunologic
approach to the treatment of MS offers another treatment protocol that could
be used as part of the fight against this terribly debilitating disease."
NeuroVax(TM) activity is thought to be through its ability to stimulate
regulatory T-cells, which are believed to be responsible for down-regulating
the pathogenic activated T-cells over-expressed and provoking the autoimmune
responses in patients afflicted with MS. This activity is another example of
how immune-based therapies pioneered by The Immune Response Corporation's
co-founder, Dr. Jonas Salk, may potentially provide new mechanisms for
fighting difficult disease conditions. NeuroVax(TM) shows potential to be
used as monotherapy as well as in combination with currently approved
treatments.
The grant, awarded by the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN), an international
research consortium, to Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) is being used
to fund the open-label trial of NeuroVax(TM) at OHSU under an approved IND
held by The Immune Response Corporation. The grant was awarded based partially
on a recently completed Phase II study at OHSU that investigated the
immunogenicity of NeuroVax(TM) given with and without an adjuvant. Under the
grant, the ITN will provide funding and technical support for additional
biological assays studies to be performed as part of the trial that will
investigate the mechanisms of action of NeuroVax(TM) and seek to establish
additional endpoints for therapeutic efficacy.
About the Immune Tolerance Network
The Immune Tolerance Network is an international research consortium that
aims to accelerate the clinical development of immune tolerance therapies for
use in transplantation, autoimmune diseases and allergy and asthma.
Headquartered at the University of California San Francisco, the ITN is
comprised of over 80 leading physicians and scientists from over 40
institutions in 9 countries world-wide. The ITN is sponsored by the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with additional funds provided
by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Additional information on the
Immune Tolerance Network may be found at http://www.immunetolerance.org.
About The Immune Response Corporation
The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR) is developing immune-based
therapies (IBT) for HIV and select other diseases. The Company's HIV products
are based on its patented whole-killed virus technology, co-invented by
Company founder, Dr. Jonas Salk, to stimulate broad and potent HIV immune
responses. REMUNE(R), currently in Phase II, is being developed as a first
line treatment for people with early-stage HIV. The Company has initiated
development of a new IBT, IR103, which incorporates a state-of-the-art immune
system booster.
The Immune Response Corporation is also developing an IBT for Multiple
Sclerosis (MS), NeuroVax(TM) which is currently in Phase II and has shown
potential therapeutic value for this difficult-to-treat disease.
Please visit The Immune Response Corporation on the World Wide Web at
http://www.imnr.com
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results
could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors,
including whether the Company will continue as a going concern and
successfully raise proceeds from financing activities sufficient to fund
operations and additional clinical trials of REMUNE(R) or NeuroVax(TM), the
uncertainty of successful completion of any such clinical trials, whether
REMUNE(R) or NeuroVax(TM), will be effective as either a therapeutic or
preventive vaccine, whether future trials will be conducted and whether the
results of such trials will coincide with the results of REMUNE(R) or
NeuroVax(TM), in preclinical trials. These risks, among others, are set forth
in The Immune Response Corporation's SEC filings including, but not limited to,
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update the results of these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. NeuroVax(TM) is a
trademark of The Immune Response Corporation. REMUNE(R) is a registered
trademark of The Immune Response Corporation.
For further information, please contact: media, Laura Silver of Sam Brown
Inc. Corporate Communications, +1-310-551-9940, silver@sambrown.com, for
Immune Response Corporation; or Investor Relations, Kathy Waller of Financial
Relations Board, +1-312-266-7800, kwaller@financialrelationsboard.com, for
Immune Response Corporation; or Michael K. Green, Chief Financial Officer of
Immune Response Corporation, +1-760-431-7080, info@imnr.com
SOURCE Immune Response Corporation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.imnr.com
CONTACT:
media, Laura Silver of Sam Brown Inc.
Corporate Communications, +1-310-551-9940, silver@sambrown.com,
for Immune Response Corporation; or Investor Relations, Kathy
Waller of Financial Relations Board, +1-312-266-7800,
kwaller@financialrelationsboard.com, for Immune Response
Corporation; or Michael K. Green, Chief Financial Officer of
Immune Response Corporation, +1-760-431-7080, info@imnr.com
|
