ACTG 5046 Indicates HIV Specific Immune Responses Stronger in REMUNE(R)
Immunized Group on HAART Alone Compared to Immunized Group on HAART Plus IL-2
BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR) announced today that the Adult
AIDS Clinical Trials Group of the National Institutes of Health presented new
data at the XIV International AIDS Conference from a clinical trial designed
to ascertain if the non-specific cytokine, Interleuken two (IL-2) can enhance
immune responses after vaccination with REMUNE(R) and non-HIV immunizations.
The results suggested that more patients receiving REMUNE(R) while on
antiviral drug therapy (HAART) developed stronger immune responses to the HIV
(70% vs. 24%, p=0.049) compared to those who received REMUNE(R) plus IL-2
while on HAART. Similarly, those on HAART alone developed stronger
hepatitis A antibodies (88% vs. 36%, p=0.031) after immunization with a
hepatitis vaccine compared to patients immunized with hepatitis A vaccine on
HAART plus IL-2.
"The results of this trial are significant in demonstrating that
REMUNE(R)'s ability to stimulate a HIV-specific immune response is not
improved with the administration of IL-2," said Dr. Ronald Moss, vice
president of medical and scientific affairs for The Immune Response
Corporation. "Indeed, non-specific stimulation via IL-2 may hinder the immune
response to both REMUNE(R) and non-HIV vaccines."
The study examined 38 HIV-infected patients treated with HAART or HAART
plus IL-2 for at least 60 weeks. Patients were immunized with tetanus toxoid,
inactivated, gp-120 depleted HIV-1 (REMUNE(R)), and hepatitis A and B
vaccines. The researchers concluded that despite CD4+ cell increases, IL-2 did
not enhance immunization responses.
The results were presented today by Dr. Hernan Valdez of the Case Western
Reserve Center for AIDS Research in Cleveland, Ohio.
Co-founded by medical pioneer, Dr. Jonas Salk and based in Carlsbad,
California, The Immune Response Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company
developing immune-based therapies designed to treat HIV, autoimmune diseases
and cancer. The Company also develops and holds patents on several
technologies that can be applied to genes in order to increase gene expression
or effectiveness, making it useful in a wide range of therapeutic applications
for a variety of disorders. Company information also is available 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, but not limited to, whether the Company will successfully raise
proceeds from financing activities sufficient to fund additional trials and
development of REMUNE(R), whether clinical trials of REMUNE(R) will be
successfully completed, and whether REMUNE(R) will be approved for marketing
or be successfully commercialized. These and other factors are discussed more
thoroughly in The Immune Response Corporation's SEC filings, including but not
limited to its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to
these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
REMUNE(R) is a registered trademark of The Immune Response Corporation.
SOURCE The Immune Response Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.imnr.com
CONTACT:
Media, James Lee of The Lee Strategy Group,
+1-310-229-5771, Fax, +1-310-229-5772, jlee@leestrategy.com, for
The Immune Response Corporation; or Investors, Kathy Lane of The
Immune Response Corporation, +1-760-771-2236, Fax,
+1-760-771-2140, info@imnr.com
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