BETHESDA, Md., June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: NWBO) (NW Bio), a biotechnology company developing DCVax® personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, announced today that, in the ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial of DCVax-Direct for all types of inoperable solid tumors, all 9 out of 9 patients who have received 4 of the 6 planned injections are showing tumor cell death, tumor shrinkage, substantial immune cell accumulation in their tumors and/or stabilization (i.e., stopping the progression) of their advanced cancer.  In addition, in 3 of these 9 patients, biopsies now show no live tumor cells in the injected tumor. 

To date, 20 patients (including the 9 referenced above) have received at least 3 of the 6 total injections, and 13 of these 20 patients are showing tumor cell death, tumor shrinkage, substantial accumulation of immune cells in the tumors, and/or stabilization of their disease.  The Company plans to report more details when the patients are further along in the treatment regimen.  The first 3 injections are given in the first 2 weeks of the 32-week treatment regimen (at Day 0, Day 7 and Day 14).   

So far, 9 of the patients have received 4 of the 6 planned injections, and all 9 of these 9 patients are showing tumor cell death, tumor shrinkage, substantial accumulation of immune cells in the tumors, and/or stabilization of the patients' disease.  The 4^th injection is administered in week 8 of the 32-week treatment regimen.  (The overall treatment regimen includes 6 injections at Days 0, 7 and 14, and Weeks 8, 16 and 32.)

Also, in a new finding, biopsies taken in 3 of these 9 patients now show no live tumor cells in the tumor that was injected.  These 3 cases include diverse, advanced and particularly aggressive cancers:  1 metastatic pancreatic cancer case, 1 metastatic colon cancer case and 1 metastatic sarcoma case.  These patients' tumors show some enlargement on imaging scans, but the biopsies show that live tumor cells are no longer detectable and immune cells are now found there.  Each of these 3 patients was treated with the lowest dose level (2 million cells per treatment).

In these 3 patients, as well as the other patients in the trial, only one of their tumors has been injected with DCVax-Direct.  The Company plans to inject multiple tumors in its further studies of DCVax-Direct. 

"These early glimpses are indicating an increasingly encouraging picture – especially the absence of any live tumor cells in 3 of the patients who have received 4 of the 6 planned injections of DCVax-Direct," commented Linda Powers, CEO of NW Bio. "The 4^th injection is still quite early, as it is just 8 weeks into the 32-week treatment regimen.  For patients with such advanced, metastatic, inoperable cancers, who have failed other existing treatments, these are exciting findings."

"We are also quite encouraged to see the patients' reactions growing as the treatments progress," noted Ms. Powers.  "As of the 3^rd injection in week 2 of the treatments, we now have 65% of the patients (13 of 20) showing some positive effects, and as of the 4^th injection in week 8 of the treatments, we now have 100% of the patients (9 of 9) showing some positive effects.  The patients also report feeling significantly better."

"Patience will be important as we move through the rest of the treatment regimen for all 36 patients in the Phase I portion of the trial, and proceed with the Phase II portion of the trial.  The data may get either better or worse as more data is collected.  However, something interesting and encouraging seems to be unfolding so far."

This growing body of initial early data is a result of both imaging scans and biopsies.  The 9 patients who have received 4 injections show a range of tumor reactions, from shrinkage to no growth to some enlargement.  However, in all of these patients, the biopsies show substantial tumor cell death, and in the cases of enlargement, the biopsies show major infiltration and accumulation of immune cells in and around the tumors – potential indications of an immune response to the cancer. 

DCVax-Direct is a personalized immune therapy for all types of inoperable solid tumor cancers, using dendritic cells (the master cells of the immune system) to mobilize the full immune system to attack the patient's cancer.  DCVax-Direct is administered by direct injection into the patient's tumors, and can reach tumors in virtually any location in the body (with image guidance for interior locations).

About Northwest Biotherapeutics

Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing immunotherapy products to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis, in both the United States and Europe.  The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax® dendritic cell-based vaccines.  The Company's lead program is a 312-patient Phase III trial in newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease."  The Company is under way with a 60-patient Phase I/II trial with DCVax-Direct for all inoperable solid tumors cancers.  The Company previously received clearance from the FDA for a 612-patient Phase III trial in prostate cancer.  The Company conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax for metastatic ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania.  In Germany, the Company recently received approval of a 5-year Hospital Exemption for treatment of glioma (brain cancer) patients outside the clinical trial. 

Disclaimer

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning future treatment of patients using DCVax and future clinical trials, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement.  Specifically, there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, risks related to the Company's ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and complete the trials on a timely basis, uncertainties about the clinical trials process, uncertainties about the timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will demonstrate safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's and Cognate's abilities to carry out the intended manufacturing expansions contemplated in the Cognate Agreements, risks related to the Company's ability to carry out the Hospital Exemption program and risks related to possible reimbursement and pricing.  Additional information on these and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings.  Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement.  You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws.

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SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics