LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmunoCellular
Therapeutics, Ltd. ("ImmunoCellular" or the Company) (NYSE
American: IMUC) announced today that it has achieved a key
milestone in its research-stage Stem-to-T-Cell immuno-oncology
program. The milestone represents an important step toward
stimulating the patient's immune system to produce an unlimited
supply of killer T cells that specifically target and destroy tumor
cells with minimal side effects. This approach could be
effective in treating many types of cancers.
The research team at ImmunoCellular successfully packaged a T
cell receptor (TCR) DNA sequence into a lentiviral vector, which
was then used to transfect human hematopoietic stem cells. The
Company has been able to verify successful transfer of genetic
material into the stem cells, and plans to continue to work toward
optimizing the transfection process. The Company believes that this
completed phase of the Stem-to-T-Cell development is an important
component of the proof-of-concept work for this technology, and
represents a critical step in advancing toward preclinical testing.
"We are excited to have achieved this critical initial milestone
in our Stem-to-T-Cell program, and to have generated a body of
scientific evidence of successful transfection and proof that the
transfected human hematopoietic stem cells bearing the TCR were
able to grow robustly for several generations," said Steven J. Swanson, PhD, Senior Vice President,
Research. "We and our collaborators are on schedule to undertake
next anticipated steps designed to enhance the transfection process
and advance toward preclinical testing. We remain committed to our
vision to develop solutions for intractable cancers, extending the
lives of cancer patients, and providing hope for a potential cure.
We believe that our Stem-to-T-Cell program is potentially a
game-changing treatment for cancer."
Anthony J. Gringeri, PhD,
President and Chief Executive Officer commented: "We are proud of
the achievements of our research team and the important scientific
validation of our Stem-to-T-Cell program generated to date. We
believe that our stem cell technology represents a major step
forward in immuno-oncology, and has the potential for meaningful
advantages over other novel immuno-oncology technologies, including
use in combination approaches. With our strengthened financial
condition and cash reserves, we intend to continue to focus our
resources on achieving additional research milestones over the next
18 months. We are also continuing to explore potential
collaborations for our clinical programs and other strategic
alternatives for our Company."
About ImmunoCellular's Stem-to-T-Cell Program
Based on the technology in-licensed from The California Institute of Technology in 2014
ImmunoCellular's Stem-to-T-Cell program is designed to harness the
power of the immune system in highly directed and specific ways to
engineer highly antigen-specific tumor killing. At the core of the
Stem-to-T-Cell technology is harvesting stem cells from cancer
patients and then cloning into them T cell receptors that are
specific for cancer cells. These engineered stem cells can then be
reintroduced into the patient and are pre-programed to produce
daughter cells that are antigen specific killer T cells that are
capable of identifying, binding to, and killing cancer cells.
Because stem cells are immortal, these reengineered stem cells
could provide a natural and perpetual source of T cells that can
target and destroy cancer cells in the patient.
The Stem-to-T-Cell platform has the potential to address many
types of cancer, including both solid and hematological tumors and
has the potential to result in a potentially curative therapy for
many different types of cancers. The stem cell platform represents
a novel and more direct approach to generating killer T cells by
using the patient's stem cells as starting material. Thus,
ImmunoCellular's Stem-to-T-Cell technology shares some similarities
with other immuno-oncology technologies, such as CAR-T, and could
potentially be used in combination approaches. Unlike CAR-T
therapies which deliver a large bolus of active T cells into the
patient's circulation and have been associated with toxicity in
some patients, ImmunoCellular's approach enables a more gradual and
measured release of killer T cells and has the potential for lower
toxicity while also yielding a more sustained response.
About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. is a Los Angeles-based clinical-stage company that
is developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of brain and
other cancers. ImmunoCellular's pipeline includes: a Stem-to-T-Cell
research program, which engineers hematopoietic stem cells to
generate cytotoxic T cells; ICT-121, a patient-specific, dendritic
cell-based immunotherapy targeting CD133 found in recurrent
glioblastoma; and ICT-140, a patient-specific, dendritic cell-based
immunotherapy targeting ovarian cancer. ImmunoCellular recently
announced the wind down of its phase 3 trial of ICT-107 in HLA-A2
patients while it pursues a collaborative arrangement or sale of
its ICT-107 program. To learn more about ImmunoCellular, please
visit www.imuc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements for ImmunoCellular Therapeutics
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including statements regarding ImmunoCellular's intentions and
current expectations concerning, among other things,
ImmunoCellular's ability to advance its Stem-to-T-Cell program;
ImmunoCellular's ability to finance its ongoing operations; the
potential benefits and therapeutic utility of ImmunoCellular's
Stem-to-T-Cell program and other product candidates; the
likelihood, timing and outcome of ImmunoCellular's possible
strategic alternatives; and ImmunoCellular's ability to achieve its
other clinical, operational, strategic and financial goals.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including
the availability of resources to continue to develop
ImmunoCellular's product candidates and the uncertain timing of
completion and success of ImmunoCellular's proof-of-concept work
and preclinical trials. Additional risks and uncertainties are
described under the heading "Risk Factors" in ImmunoCellular's most
recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 2017. Except as
required by law, ImmunoCellular undertakes no obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.
Investor Relations
Jane Green
415.652.4819
jane@jmgcomm.com
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SOURCE ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.