GTG Genetic Technologies Limited

Genetic Technologies Limited (NASDAQ:GENE)(ASX:GTG) is pleased to provide the Market with a further progress report on its ImmunAid project. This project seeks to improve the efficiency of treatments for cancer and for other chronic diseases, such as AIDS, by focusing in particular on harnessing the human immune system. GTG reported in April 2001 that some early experiments conducted at the University of Western Australia produced first results in a mouse AIDS model which were described at the time as �quite remarkable." As a consequence, a new research company was formed - ImmunAid Pty. Ltd. GTG initially owned 60% of this company. Currently, GTG owns 65% of ImmunAid Pty. Ltd., with the balance held by scientists associated with the project. In August 2000, a first patent was filed by ImmunAid. In 2002, ImmunAid�s Technical Review Committee urged the company to immediately expand this research from laboratory animals to human monitoring trials. The relevant ethical approvals were obtained and the first human monitoring trials then began in Australia. In 2004, our initial success in mice was reported in the scientific publication �The Journal of Immunology." It appeared that the ImmunAid strategy may have prevented disease progression by treating these mice at particular times. These findings supported our belief that in certain diseases which are associated with the immune system, the timing of treatment may be critical. In turn, this led to the monitoring of patients with AIDS and also certain cancers, including ovarian cancer, mesothelioma and malignant melanoma. ImmunAid also filed additional patents, covering various aspects of this novel strategy related to the timing of treatment of various cancers, based on the detection of a cycle in the immune system - and then synchronising the timing of treatment to that cycle. We are pleased to now report further progress. Human monitoring trials in Australia and in USA have recently provided further evidence that the immune system may indeed �cycle� in relation to certain diseases, including malignant melanoma and ovarian cancer. Importantly, all of the cancer patients examined in these trials demonstrated some degree of cycling - in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy. These results have also been statistically modelled, and the presence of the ImmunAid cycle has been independently confirmed. At the invitation of the internationally renowned Cancer Research Institute, ImmunAid researchers this month presented a scientific poster at a major cancer conference in New York. This presentation attracted interest from leading cancer specialists and it is now anticipated that several research organisations in USA plan to conduct their own trials to demonstrate the presence of the ImmunAid cycle and to time the treatment of patients accordingly. GTG is aware that one such organisation has already treated its first patient in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy, with further patients likely to be treated over coming months. Clearly, the fact that leading oncologists are now planning to treat patients in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy provides independent evidence of the significant progress being made by this project. We can now report that ImmunAid is currently engaged in discussions with clinical groups in USA and in Australia and with funding sources in USA who have expressed interest in supporting and expediting the commercialisation of this project. It should also be noted that the market for more effective cancer treatments is significant. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in USA has estimated that, in 2003, the overall cost of all cancer-related illness in the US was $189.5 billion. A scientific paper produced by University of Chicago estimated the economic value of eliminating deaths from cancer at $48 trillion, and noted �even a modest 1% reduction in cancer mortality would be worth $500 billion." In Australia, in addition to the pain, suffering and shortened life expectancy from the disease, cancer costs the community an estimated $2.8 billion annually. GTG is pleased to have encouraged and supported this research and will continue to update the Market on the progress of the ImmunAid project, as appropriate. Genetic Technologies Limited (NASDAQ:GENE)(ASX:GTG) is pleased to provide the Market with a further progress report on its ImmunAid project. This project seeks to improve the efficiency of treatments for cancer and for other chronic diseases, such as AIDS, by focusing in particular on harnessing the human immune system. GTG reported in April 2001 that some early experiments conducted at the University of Western Australia produced first results in a mouse AIDS model which were described at the time as "quite remarkable." As a consequence, a new research company was formed - ImmunAid Pty. Ltd. GTG initially owned 60% of this company. Currently, GTG owns 65% of ImmunAid Pty. Ltd., with the balance held by scientists associated with the project. In August 2000, a first patent was filed by ImmunAid. In 2002, ImmunAid's Technical Review Committee urged the company to immediately expand this research from laboratory animals to human monitoring trials. The relevant ethical approvals were obtained and the first human monitoring trials then began in Australia. In 2004, our initial success in mice was reported in the scientific publication "The Journal of Immunology." It appeared that the ImmunAid strategy may have prevented disease progression by treating these mice at particular times. These findings supported our belief that in certain diseases which are associated with the immune system, the timing of treatment may be critical. In turn, this led to the monitoring of patients with AIDS and also certain cancers, including ovarian cancer, mesothelioma and malignant melanoma. ImmunAid also filed additional patents, covering various aspects of this novel strategy related to the timing of treatment of various cancers, based on the detection of a cycle in the immune system - and then synchronising the timing of treatment to that cycle. We are pleased to now report further progress. Human monitoring trials in Australia and in USA have recently provided further evidence that the immune system may indeed "cycle" in relation to certain diseases, including malignant melanoma and ovarian cancer. Importantly, all of the cancer patients examined in these trials demonstrated some degree of cycling - in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy. These results have also been statistically modelled, and the presence of the ImmunAid cycle has been independently confirmed. At the invitation of the internationally renowned Cancer Research Institute, ImmunAid researchers this month presented a scientific poster at a major cancer conference in New York. This presentation attracted interest from leading cancer specialists and it is now anticipated that several research organisations in USA plan to conduct their own trials to demonstrate the presence of the ImmunAid cycle and to time the treatment of patients accordingly. GTG is aware that one such organisation has already treated its first patient in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy, with further patients likely to be treated over coming months. Clearly, the fact that leading oncologists are now planning to treat patients in accordance with the ImmunAid strategy provides independent evidence of the significant progress being made by this project. We can now report that ImmunAid is currently engaged in discussions with clinical groups in USA and in Australia and with funding sources in USA who have expressed interest in supporting and expediting the commercialisation of this project. It should also be noted that the market for more effective cancer treatments is significant. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in USA has estimated that, in 2003, the overall cost of all cancer-related illness in the US was $189.5 billion. A scientific paper produced by University of Chicago estimated the economic value of eliminating deaths from cancer at $48 trillion, and noted "even a modest 1% reduction in cancer mortality would be worth $500 billion." In Australia, in addition to the pain, suffering and shortened life expectancy from the disease, cancer costs the community an estimated $2.8 billion annually. GTG is pleased to have encouraged and supported this research and will continue to update the Market on the progress of the ImmunAid project, as appropriate.