CARLSBAD, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orchestra
Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: OCHT, formerly IMRP), an immuno-
pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel
treatments for autoimmune diseases, announced today that effective April 16
the Company's new trading symbol will be OCHT. Also effective on April 16,
2007, the Company's publicly traded "Class B" warrants will trade under the
symbol OCHTZ.
"This marks an exciting moment in the Company's history as Orchestra
Therapeutics transforms itself into an innovative and dynamic company
grounded in the autoimmune platform," said Dr. Joseph O'Neill, President
and CEO of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.
About Orchestra Therapeutics
Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc., formerly The Immune Response Corporation
(OTC Bulletin Board: OCHT, formerly IMRP), is an immuno-pharmaceutical
company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for
autoimmune diseases. The Company's lead immune-based therapeutic product
candidate is NeuroVax(TM) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). In
addition to MS, the Company has proprietary technology and prior clinical
experience for clinical evaluation of TCR peptide-based immune-based
therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis. The targeted
strategy behind the Company's autoimmune therapies is reflected in the name
Orchestra. Rather than disrupting the function of the entire immune system,
these therapeutic vaccines are designed to elicit a very specific response
-- akin to correcting one instrument in an orchestra that is out of tune --
to help control disease.
Autoimmune processes are implicated in more than 60 conditions,
including MS, RA, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, lupus and type-1 diabetes.
Orchestra Therapeutics' unique approach to controlling autoimmune diseases
uses small peptide vaccines that appear to stimulate FOXP3+ Regulatory
T-cells; a component of the immune system that is now recognized as being
key in autoimmune pathogenesis.
In MS, for example, a specific subset of a patient's own white blood
cells, pathogenic T-cells, attack myelin, a fatty tissue in the central
nervous system, which surrounds and protects nerve fibers. This pathologic
process creates multiple areas of inflammation that ultimately lead to
scarring (sclerosis) and that interfere with normal transmission of nerve
impulses. This nerve damage, in turn, leads to a variety of chronic and
often debilitating neurological symptoms, ranging from serious movement and
balance problems to vision impairment.
NeuroVax(TM), an investigational T-Cell Receptor peptide vaccine for
the treatment of relapsing-remitting forms of MS, appears to work by
enhancing levels of FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells within the immune system,
which may help control levels of pathogenic T-cells in MS patients. Data
from the Company's most recent Phase II clinical trial in MS showed that
reduced levels of FOXP3 can be restored to normal levels after repeated
vaccinations with NeuroVax(TM). The Company recently announced the
injection of the first patient in a large multi-center Phase II study to
assess the safety and efficacy of NeuroVax(TM).
Recognizing that a growing base of scientific research has demonstrated
the potential significance of the role of FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells in the
prevention and treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases, the Company
has made the strategic decision to emphasize this program and redirected
its resources toward the execution and expansion of product development in
this area.
The Company is in discussions with several academic institutions to
conduct pre-clinical work on therapeutic vaccines to treat psoriasis and
RA. Based on findings to be derived from these product development
programs, the Company plans to initiate Phase I trials in one of these new
autoimmune areas in 2008. The Company also has two HIV product candidates,
Remune(R) and IR103. The 52-week data from the first large cohort of HIV
clinical trial participants from a now-terminated Phase II clinical trial
have already been gathered, and analysis of the data will be completed and
disclosed in the second quarter of 2007. Based on this data, the Company
will consider strategic alternatives for the HIV program.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are often signaled by forms of words such as should, could,
will, might, plan, projection, forecast, expect, guidance, potential and
developing. 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 clinical trials of NeuroVax(TM),
Remune(R) or IR103, the uncertainty of successful completion of any such
clinical trials, the fact that the Company has not succeeded in
commercializing any drug, the risk that NeuroVax(TM), Remune(R) or IR103
might not prove to be effective as either a therapeutic vaccine, whether
future trials will be conducted and whether the results of such trials will
coincide with the results of NeuroVax(TM), Remune(R) or IR103 in
preclinical trials and/or earlier clinical trials and the unresolved status
of the Company's HIV program. A more extensive set of risks is set forth in
Orchestra Therapeutic's SEC filings including, but not limited to, its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and its
subsequent Quarterly Reports to be filed on Form 10-Q. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update the results of these forward- looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after today or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
NeuroVax(TM) is a trademark of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc. Remune(R)
is a registered trademark of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.
MEDIA CONTACT: INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Rachel Kessler Robert Giordano
Chamberlain Communications Group Inc. ROI Associates
(212) 389-9155 (212) 495-0201
rkessler@chamberlainpr.com rgiordano@roiny.com
Gene Marbach
COMPANY CONTACT: Makovsky & Company
Michael K. Green, COO (212) 508-9645
Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc. gmarbach@makovsky.com
(760) 431-7080
info@orchestratherapeutics.com
SOURCE Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.imnr.com
CONTACT:
Media, Rachel Kessler of Chamberlain
Communications Group Inc., +1-212-389-9155,
rkessler@chamberlainpr.com; or Investors, Robert Giordano of ROI
Associates, +1-212-495-0201, rgiordano@roiny.com; or Gene Marbach
of Makovsky & Company, +1-212-508-9645, gmarbach@makovsky.com,
all for Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.; or Michael K. Green, COO of
Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc., +1-760-431-7080,
info@orchestratherapeutics.com
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