April 11, 1997

Unique And Promising Cancer Treatment To Begin Clinical Trials at University Hospitals

- Unique And Promising Cancer Treatment To Begin Clinical Trials - at University Hospitals

Mr. Romano Robusto, President and CEO of Briana Bio-Tech., announces that a team of University of Alberta medical researchers has developed a revolutionary new cancer therapy to induce the body to create an enhanced immune system to destroy cancer cells. This promising new treatment will be used in Phase 1 human clinical trials scheduled for June at the University Hospitals in Edmonton. These trials will include 10 patients, five with advanced brain cancer and five with melanoma (skin cancer). This breakthrough is the result of research conducted by Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, a Heritage researcher, and his research team in the University of Alberta's department of medical microbiology and immunology. This original and promising work has been done in collaboration with Dr. Ken Petruk, a professor of neurosurgery with the University's Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. Dr. Chang's pre-clinical research was based on the successful rejection of human tumors in "humanized" laboratory animals (animals whose immune systems have been developed to resemble that of people). The therapy (immunogene therapy) is the result of a unique combination of two genes and includes the gene (B7-2), never before tested in cancer clinical trials. The phase 1 study will target the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer and a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, and will evaluate the safety and toxicity of the vaccine. In making the announcement, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, said "Dr. Lung-Ji Chang has had a significant impact on the University of Alberta since he was recruited 4 years ago. He is an excellent example of a basic scientist who has applied his knowledge to the clinical challenges of AIDS and cancer therapy through gene therapy. His work has brought clinicians and basic scientists together to develop new approaches to these diseases and he has rapidly brought international recognition to our Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and our University." Briana Bio-Tech Inc., an Edmonton-based biopharmaceutical company, has licensed the research and is funding the clinical trials and the ongoing research and development for this promising technology for at least the next three years. The company has exclusive worldwide distribution rights of this technology. Mr. Romano Robusto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Briana Bio-Tech, said, "We are very excited by the outstanding world-class research underway at the University of Alberta and with this collaboration. Our company is actively pursuing other strategic alliances and collaborative ventures in areas of oncology and neurology." Dr. Linda Allison, Vice-president, Medical and Scientific Affairs of Briana Bio-Tech added, "Briana is very pleased that this important research is moving toward clinical trials with such close collaboration between Drs. Chang and Petruk. It also pleases us that the ownership of this technology will stay here in Edmonton." Briana Bio-Tech is focused on the commercial development of proprietary therapeutics and diagnostic projects for treating cancer and neurological disorders. Briana is currently negotiating licenses for a number of strategic technologies in late-stage pre-clinical or early stage human clinical studies. The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada's largest research-intensive universities serving more than 29,000 students.

TEL: (403) 492-9821 Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, Professor,
Medical Microbiology and Immunology

TEL: (403) 423-1038 Mr. Romano Robusto, President and CEO,
Briana Bio-Tech.

TEL: (403) 492-0442 Sandra Halme, Public Affairs,
University of Alberta