LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (OTCBB: IMUC), a biotechnology company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of various forms of cancer, announced today that ICT-107 was selected by R&D Directions editors for the magazine’s 10th annual list of “100 Great Investigational Drugs” featured as the cover article in the March 2011 issue. ICT-107 is the company’s dendritic cell based cancer vaccine candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme(GBM). Editors selected compounds that “show particular promise in a major or growing therapeutic area of unmet medical need, are actively in development, and target disease pathways using a distinctly innovative mechanism of action.”
“We are excited with the early promise ICT-107 has demonstrated in extending both progression-free and overall survival in patients with GBM, with no serious adverse events reported to date,” said Manish Singh, Ph.D. President and CEO. “We are pleased with the recognition from R&D Directions of ICT-107 as one of the great investigational drugs.”
The Company recently started a Phase II trial of its lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme(GBM).
In the Phase I clinical study of ICT-107 in GBM, newly diagnosed patients who received the vaccine in addition to the standard of care of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy demonstrated a one year overall survival of 100 percent and a two year survival of 80 percent. This compares favorably with historical 61.1 percent one-year and 26.5 percent two-year survival based on the standard of care alone.
The 12-month disease-free survival from the time of surgery was 75 percent with ICT-107, compared with the historical control of 26.9 percent, and the 24 month disease-free survival with ICT-107 was 43.8 percent, compared with 10.7 percent historically. The median progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.9 months after surgery compared especially favorably with the historical median PFS of 6.9 months observed with the standard treatment. Safety data for ICT-107 also compared favorably to current treatments: no serious adverse events were reported and minor side effects included fatigue, skin rash and pruritis.
R&D Directions is a leading publication for the pharmaceutical industry and is focused on the progress of drugs advancing through research and development.
About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
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 commenced a Phase II trial of its lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for glioblastoma in January 2011. 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 without limitation the need for substantial additional capital to complete the Phase II trial for ICT-107 and to fund development of other product candidates beyond their initial clinical or pre-clinical stages; the risk that the safety and efficacy results obtained in the Phase I trial for ICT-107 will not be confirmed in subsequent trials; the risk of delays in enrolling patients for, or other delays in completing, the Phase II trial for ICT-107; the risk that IMUC will not be able to secure a partner company for development or commercialization of ICT-107; the need to satisfy performance milestones to maintain the vaccine technology licenses with Cedars-Sinai; and the risk of obtaining patent coverage for the dendritic cell-based vaccine or cancer stem cell vaccine or that any patents covering those vaccines will provide commercially significant protection for these technologies. 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:
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
CEOcast, Inc.
Gary Nash, 212-732-4300
Investor Relations
[email protected]
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