Biomira Vaccine Subject of American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting Presentations
Cancer Vaccine Tested in Bone Marrow Transplant
and Stem Cell Rescue Patients
EDMONTON, AB, April 20 /CNW/ - Biomira Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOM) (TSE, ME: BRA)
announced today that findings from clinical trials with its lead product
candidate, THERATOPE(R) vaccine, will be presented at the 35th annual meeting
of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Atlanta, May 15-18.
Leona Holmberg, M.D., Ph.D., Brenda Sandmaier, M.D., and co-investigators
at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will be presenting data from a
clinical trial of THERATOPE(R) cancer vaccine in patients with breast and
ovarian cancers following hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Separately,
Charles Vogel, M.D., FACP, Columbia Cancer Research Network, has been informed
that an abstract concerning the use of THERATOPE(R) vaccine in Biomira's
multi-center bridging study in women with metastatic breast cancer following
first-line chemotherapy, was accepted for publication in the 1999 ASCO
Proceedings. The bridging study was carried out before the Company initiated
its pivotal Phase III trial currently underway.
''We are very pleased that the efforts of our investigators using
THERATOPE(R) cancer vaccine are being acknowledged by this prestigious
organization,'' said Alex McPherson, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of
Biomira. ''We are working diligently to see this promising new drug in the
fight against cancer through to commercialization.''
Biomira initiated pivotal Phase III clinical trials with THERATOPE(R)
vaccine late last year, and plans to enroll 900 evaluable patients with
metastatic breast cancer at approximately 75 sites worldwide.
Earlier studies suggested clinically significant survival benefit in
metastatic breast cancer patients treated with THERATOPE(R) vaccine.
THERATOPE(R) vaccine consists of a synthetic antigen that mimics STn, a
cancer-associated epitope, and induces the body to mount an effective immune
response against cancer cells. The data being featured at the May conference
further support findings that THERATOPE(R) vaccine may have potential as a
powerful tool in battling cancer.
ASCO's 1999 Annual Meeting will be at the Georgia World Congress Center
and will feature over 150 scientific and educational presentations, as well as
an exhibition with over 250 industry representatives. It is the largest
professional meeting on clinical data about new cancer therapies.
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 or the efficacy of products. 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.
-0- 04/20/1999
For further information: Company Media Contact: Bill Wickson, (780) 490-2818; Company Investor Relations Contact: Jane Tulloch, (780) 490-2812; Media Contact: Brad Miles, (212) 477-9007 ext. 17; Investor Contact: Jonathan Fassberg, (212) 477-9007 ext. 1
6; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Susan Edmonds, (206) 667-2896
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