ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Engages Dr. Peter Brooks of the Maine Medical Center to Explore Cancer Stem Cell Targets
Thursday October 22, 2009, 8:32 am EDT
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (OTCBB: IMUC) a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers, announced today that it has signed a research agreement with Dr. Peter Brooks of the Maine Medical Center, a specialist in the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis, to explore novel targets and antibodies associated with targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). The collaboration is designed to produce novel antibodies using the Company's proprietary CSCs isolated from glioblastoma patients to target epitopes primarily present on CSCs. This could enhance the understanding of the expression and function of molecular signatures in CSCs that might help to better define them, potentially enabling more effective approaches for identifying and treating a wide range of malignant human tumors.
"We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Brooks and his team at the Maine Medical Center and expect that this collaboration will create a repertoire of antibodies targeting CSCs," remarked Manish Singh, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of IMUC. "Increasing our ability to target these cells that serve as the building blocks for tumors would be a significant step towards designing diagnostics and therapies with the potential to attack cancer at its very roots."
Dr. Brooks is a specialist in the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis with multiple publications to his credit and was one of the inventors of antibodies to cryptic epitopes of collagen which is currently under clinical development; prior to joining the Maine Medical Center, he held associate professorships at the USC School of Medicine and the NYU School of Medicine where he was also Director of Angiogenesis and Radiation Research. Dr Brooks is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the company.
About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics
IMUC is a Los Angeles-based clinical-stage company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers. The company's "off the shelf" therapeutic vaccine product candidate targeting cancer stem cells for multiple cancer indications is targeted by IMUC to enter clinical trials for glioblastoma during the first quarter of 2010. IMUC also recently completed a Phase I trial of its dendritic cell-based clinical product candidate for glioblastoma. IMUC has entered into a research and license option deal with the Roche Group for one of its monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer and multiple myeloma, that provides for potential licensing and milestone payments of $32MM and royalties if the Roche Group exercises its option and commercializes this antibody technology for multiple indications. IMUC is in pre-clinical development of another monoclonal antibody product candidate for the treatment of small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, and is also evaluating its platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery using differential immunization for diagnosing and treating multiple types of cancer. To learn more about IMUC, please visit www.imuc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the IMUC may be unable to develop suitable antibodies using IMUC's cancer stem cells; the risk that IMUC may be unable to obtain patent coverage for antibodies using IMUC's cancer stem cells or that patents issued for IMUC's monoclonal antibody product candidates may not be enforceable or may not provide commercially significant protection for these candidates; the need to confirm preliminary pre-clinical data for IMUC's lead monoclonal antibody and other monoclonal antibody product candidates; the risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical development of monoclonal antibody and other product candidates, including the need to modify these candidates or combine them with other technologies to enhance their tumor killing capabilities; the need for substantial additional capital to fund development of product candidates beyond their initial clinical or pre-clinical stages; and the potential inability to secure corporate partners or licensees for development of the monoclonal antibody product candidates. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in IMUC's most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and any current reports on Form 8-K, IMUC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact Information:
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
CEOcast, Inc.
Gary Nash
Investor Relations
Tel: (212) 732-4300
Email: Gnash@ceocast.com
Source: ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
Please view this press release and other ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. press releases at other fine sites.
