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Biotech / Medical : Techniclone (TCLN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bruce Cullen who wrote (3405)	2/10/2000 2:51:00 PM
From: AurumRabosa	Respond to of 3702

Techniclone Issued Patent on Tumor Necrosis Therapy Technology Tustin, CA (Business Wire) Feb 9, 2000 - Techniclone Corporation (TCLN) today announced that the US Patent Office has granted a patent, US Patent #6,017,514, that extends patent coverage for Techniclone's Tumor Necrosis Therapy (TNT) technology. The TNT technology is one of Techniclone's platform technologies for the treatment and diagnosis of solid tumors. The newly issued patent broadens Techniclone's coverage for the use of TNT as an imaging agent to determine the effectiveness of conventional cancer therapy. Tumor Necrosis Therapy is based on the principle that all solid tumors build poor vascular networks and eventually outgrow their blood supply leading to the development of a core of dead and dying tumor cells (necrotic tissue). In experimental models, when a labeled TNT antibody has been administered to an animal bearing a solid tumor, the TNT antibody has localized to the necrotic core of the tumor enabling the tumor to be imaged or treated depending on the antibody label. Clinical testing has also confirmed that TNT effectively targets necrotic tissue in cancer in humans. Effective cancer therapy with chemotherapy or radiation results in the killing of additional tumor cells leading to more necrotic tissue in the tumor. The newly created necrotic tissue becomes an even larger target for subsequent administrations of TNT imaging or therapeutic agents. According to the newly issued patent, a labeled TNT antibody is used to obtain an initial image of the tumor. Following a course of therapy, another TNT image of the tumor is obtained. If the cancer therapy has been successful, the post-therapy image should show increased areas of necrosis. If the therapy has not been successful, the post-therapy image will appear much like the initial image. Techniclone believes that this use of TNT will eventually make it possible for physicians treating cancer patients to make an earlier estimate of the effectiveness of a given treatment regimen. This would allow the physician more quickly to switch to alternative treatment options should the initial treatment be ineffective. There are many different compounds being developed by other companies that can be used to image solid tumors, including radioactive isotopes, phosphorescent dyes and MRI and PET image enhancers. Techniclone scientists believe that TNT will have the ability to deliver these and other compounds directly to the necrotic tissue present in solid tumor cancers. Techniclone believes there may be significant opportunities for working with partners to commercialize solid tumor cancer imaging and diagnostic products. Dr. John Bonfiglio, Techniclone's Interim President, stated, "The issuance of this patent further solidifies Techniclone's intellectual property position in the area of Tumor Necrosis Therapy. This specific patent significantly strengthens the intellectual property area that positions TNT as an effective imaging and diagnostic agent for a wide variety of human tumors. In addition, we believe oncologists will find significant value in having the ability to rapidly measure in real time the tumor killing effects of the therapies they are administering to their patients. We intend to continue to strengthen our patent portfolio in order to protect and broaden the coverage of the technologies that we are planning to develop, either ourselves or in collaboration with strategic partners." Additional information on the Company and its products can be found at techniclone.com Safe Harbor Statement: This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations as a result of risk factors discussed in Techniclone's reports on file with the US SEC, including, but not limited to, the Company's report on Form 10K for the year ended April 30, 1999 and Form 10Q for the quarter ended October 31, 1999. Contact: DeMonte Associates Cynthia DeMonte 212-420-0088