Biomira Presents New Data at Biotechnology Industry
Organization Meeting
Findings Show BLP25 Vaccine Stimulates Potent T-cell Responses in a
High Proportion of Cancer Patients
BOSTON, March 27 /CNW-PRN/ - Biomira Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOM - news; TSE: BRA - news) today presented data at a
meeting of the Biotechnology Industry Organization in Boston suggesting that its synthetic cancer vaccine, BLP25 vaccine, is
capable of inducing a potent immune response against MUC-1 cancer associated antigen in a high proportion of cancer
patients. MUC-1 cancer associated antigen is expressed on over 90 percent of common human cancers.
``Most peptide antigens stimulate the T-cell response in only a subset (usually a minority) of people. The ability to induce a
strong T-cell response against a peptide antigen in such a high proportion of patients is an unusual phenomenon, and we are
extremely excited that BLP25 vaccine has performed so well,' said Michael Longenecker, PhD, Senior Vice President,
Research and Development.
Data from two BLP25 vaccine recent studies support these conclusions. One was an in vitro study using T-cells from normal
human donors and a second was from a Phase II clinical trial. In the in vitro study, dendritic cells, the most potent antigen
presenting cells, were incubated with BLP25 vaccine before incubation with donors' T-cells. Twelve out of 14 (86 percent) of
normal donors were able to generate a strong primary T-cell response against MUC-1.
In the clinical trial, a Phase II study with BLP25 vaccine to determine whether a higher dose (1,000 mg) and more frequent
administration would lead to an increased immune response, six out of eight evaluable non-small cell lung cancer patients
experienced significant T-cell proliferative responses against the target antigen.
``Biomira has always stated that the MUC-1 cancer mucin, upon which our BLP25 vaccine is based, is expressed by over 90
percent of common cancers. We were extremely pleased to find that a high proportion of cancer patients are also responsive to
our vaccine expressing MUC-1 peptide. This means that a successful BLP25 vaccine has the possibility of targeting a very
large number of patients with common cancers - a potentially huge market,' said Alex McPherson, MD, PhD, President and
CEO of Biomira.
A second Phase II study with BLP25 vaccine is currently under way to examine the efficacy of adding the immune enhancer
interleukin-2 to Biomira's vaccine formulation, while preserving a satisfactory safety profile.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that engages in lobbying, advocacy,
communications and new business development related to the biotech industry. Established in 1993, today it includes more than
850 member companies.
Biomira is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to cancer
management. The commitment to the treatment of cancer currently focuses on the development of synthetic vaccines and novel
strategies for cancer immunotherapy. We are The Cancer Vaccine People(TM).
This release may contain forward-looking statements. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in forward-looking statements, including those predicting the timing of clinical trials, the efficacy of products or the
availability of capital. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, it
can give no assurance that the Company's expectations are correct. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in
their entirety by this cautionary statement. |
