PRIMA BIOMED ANNOUNCES FINDINGS ON OVARIAN CANCER TREATMENT

Prima BioMed announced that the final results of its Phase IIa trial of CVac in ovarian cancer exceeded the expectations of the trial, as set by the company's scientific advisory panel in conjunction with the principal investigating oncologist. The primary objective of the trial was to determine if CVac would reduce or stabilize the blood marker CA125 in at least 15 percent of patients.

Twenty-one late-stage ovarian cancer patients with progressive disease, demonstrated by rising CA125, were eligible to participate in the clinical efficacy evaluation. CVac demonstrated a positive clinical response or stabilization of disease in four of the 21 patients based on changes in CA125.

Two of the four patients experienced major responses, defined by a greater than 50 percent reduction in CA125 levels. The duration of major response was 42 weeks in one patient and 44 weeks in the other.

Two patients demonstrated minor responses -- a reduction in CA125 levels of between 25 and 50 percent -- with duration of response lasting 10 weeks for one and 27 weeks for the other.

This was the second clinical trial of CVac. The company has initiated planning for the next stage of clinical development, forecasted to be a controlled Phase IIb clinical trial in 100 to 200 patients. The trial is anticipated to begin within 12 months.

CVac consists of a patient's own dendritic cells primed with a tumor antigen and an adjuvant.