StemCell Therapy

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (ImmunoCellular or the Company) (OTCBB: IMUC.OB - News), a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, announced today that the Company will deliver a presentation on the identification and characterization of immunogenic epitopes from CD133 and their potential for use to immunologically target cancer stem cells (CSCs) at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, which will be held from March 31 to April 4, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

CD133 is a marker that identifies CSCs on many solid tumors and its expression has been correlated with shortened survival. Potential Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes were identified by computer algorithms to predict binding to HLA-A2 tissue type on white blood cells. Studies with human cells in vitro demonstrated immunogenicity of two lead peptides and in vivo studies in mice confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of these peptides as a potential vaccine to target CD133 CSCs. The Company plans to incorporate these peptides into its second product, ICT-121, for recurrent glioblastoma as the initial indication, followed by additional solid tumors.

To evaluate the potential for autoimmunity, mouse homolog peptides of the lead epitopes that were shown to have high affinity binding to human HLA-A2 were used to immunize HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Mice were immunized 3 times at 3 week intervals and spleens were harvested and stimulated in vitro for one week with peptide pulsed antigen presentation cells. Interferon Gamma assays showed immune responses to the two lead peptides in 35% and 40% of mice. Organs, including heart, lung, liver, kidney, stomach, intestine, brain, bone marrow, gonads, and eyes from mice with immune responses were found to be negative for lymphocytic infiltrations supporting a lack of autoimmunity related to the immune response to these peptides. Together these studies support the safety and immunogenicity of these peptides as a potential vaccine to target CD133 cancer stem cells.

The Company will deliver its presentation titled Identification and characterization of immunogenic epitopes from CD133 and their potential for use to immunologically target cancer stem cells on Sunday, April 1, 2012, from 1:00 pm 5:00 pm CST in McCormick Place West (Hall F), Poster Section 19.

About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics is a Los Angeles-based clinical-stage company that is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers. The Company recently commenced a Phase II trial of its lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for glioblastoma. To learn more aboutIMUC, please visitwww.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 need for substantial additional capital to fund development of ICT-121 through to commercialization; the risk that safety and efficacy results for ICT-121 will not be confirmed in the human clinical trials; the risk that the FDA may impose additional testing requirements before proceeding to the clinical trials; the risks associated with adhering to projected preclinical or clinical timelines and the uncertainties of outcomes of development work for product candidates; and the risk of obtaining patent coverage for the ICT-121 vaccine or that any patents covering this vaccine will provide commercially significant protection for this product candidate. 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.

Read this article:
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics to Present on Cancer Stem Cell Targeting at the AACR Annual Meeting

This entry was posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:58 pm and is filed under Stem Cell Negative. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |