CARLSBAD, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR) announced today publication of
data suggesting that immune responses to therapeutic immunization with
REMUNE(R) were more optimal in HIV infected patients with high CD4 cell counts
and low virus levels. The article "Predictors of HIV Specific Lymphocyte
Proliferative Immune Responses Induced by Therapeutic Vaccination" appears in
the May issue of Clinical and Experimental Immunology (128:359-364).
The open label study of 38 HIV infected individuals determined whether
baseline parameters such as CD4 cell counts and the amount of virus in the
blood were predictive of the magnitude of the HIV specific lymphocyte
proliferative response to REMUNE(R). Lymphocyte proliferative responses to
HIV antigens appeared to be significantly enhanced after immunization
(P<0.0001). Low viral load (r = -0.482, p = 0.003) and high CD4 cell counts
(r = 0.368, p = 0.03) prior to immunization appeared significantly associated
with better lymphocyte proliferative responses when measured at week 28 after
immunization with REMUNE(R). In addition, low levels of IgG, a measurement of
immune activation, appeared associated with better immune responses after
vaccination (r = -0.369, p = 0.02).
The authors concluded, "vaccination in a more optimal cohort (high CD4
cell counts, low viral load, low immune activation) may lead to stronger
immune responses and possible control of viral replication. Thus testing of
this and other immune-based therapies in early disease, or as drug sparing
adjuvants in subjects with high CD4 cell counts and low viral load, becomes
particularly relevant." The article can be found at http://www.blackwell-
synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=synergy&synergyAction=showAbstract&doi=10.1
046/j.1365-2249.2002.01835.x
The Immune Response Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company based in
Carlsbad, California, developing immune-based therapies to induce specific
T-cell responses for the treatment of HIV, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In
addition, the Company has developed and patented a novel technology to be
applied to any gene in order to increase expression of that gene. NOTE:
Company information can also be located on the Internet Web Site:
http://www.imnr.com
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results
could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors,
including, but not limited to, whether data generated from previous trials can
be replicated in future clinical trials, whether clinical trials will be
successfully concluded, whether REMUNE(R) will be approved for marketing or be
successfully commercialized and whether the Company will be able to obtain
additional financing. Those factors are discussed more thoroughly in The
Immune Response Corporation's SEC filings, including but not limited to its
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to
these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
REMUNE(R) is a registered trademark of The Immune Response Corporation.