PCI Biotech: Publication of results showing that the PCI technology can significantly improve vaccination treatment in a melanoma model

Lysaker, 9 December 2014 - PCI Biotech (PCIB) the Norwegian biopharmaceutical
company, reported today that results from animal studies with PCI Biotech's
proprietary technology photochemical internalization (PCI) at University
Hospital Zurich have been accepted for publication in Journal of Controlled
Release, a high impact pharmaceutical scientific journal. The article has the
title "Photosensitisation facilitates cross-priming of adjuvant-free protein
vaccines and stimulation of tumour-suppressing CD8 T cells".

In the study PCI Biotech's proprietary photosensitiser has been combined with a
model vaccine antigen and the resulting vaccine has been injected into to skin
of mice, followed by illumination of the injection site. Earlier studies have
shown that PCI-mediated vaccination induces stimulation of so-called cytotoxic
T-lymphocytes (CTLs) in the animals. CTLs are immune cells that are considered
to be of primary importance for killing tumour cells after therapeutic cancer
vaccination. In this article the researchers show that the PCI enhanced immune
responses translates into a potent anti-tumour effect in animals, both if used
as a prophylactic vaccine and if used for therapeutic vaccination in animals
with already established tumours. The results of the study further substantiate
PCI as a very potent CTL-inducing technology that can be used to enhance the
effect of cancer immunotherapies involving therapeutic cancer vaccination.

About therapeutic cancer vaccination
The potential of therapeutic cancer vaccination - vaccines that treat cancer by
inducing or strengthening an immune response - has long been recognised by the
pharmaceutical industry. The past few years there has been a renewed focus on
such vaccines, and the first vaccine was approved by FDA in 2010. Since then,
pharmaceutical companies have announced a large number of development milestones
for new therapeutic cancer vaccines, and the market for such vaccines is
projected to grow to a value of approximately $8 billion by 2019. This is a
promising area, but there are still important unsolved issues and several
companies have recently reported failed clinical studies. Vaccination with
protein or peptide antigens often fails to generate the strong cytotoxic
responses that are needed for successful therapeutic vaccination. An important
probable reason for this is insufficient access of antigens to the appropriate
machinery inside the antigen presenting cells. Antigens typically enter these
cells through endocytosis and PCI may be utilised to deliver these antigens to
the immunisation machinery that is responsible for the cytotoxic immune response
through the so-called MHC class-I-restricted antigen presentation.

About PCI Biotech
PCI Biotech is a cancer focused biopharmaceutical company headquartered in
Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Axess). The company is developing
therapeutic products based on its  proprietary photochemical internalisation
(PCI) technology. Originating from world leading research at eh Norwegian Radium
Hospital, the PCI technology works by inducing triggered endosomal release and
may be used to unlock the true therapeutic potential of a wide array of
modalities, such  as small molecules, ADCs and siRNA. Two programs are currently
in clinical development  in patient  populations with  a high  unmet medical
need; recurrent head & neck cancer (phase II) and bile duct cancer (phase I/II).

The company is also developing PCI as a CTL induction technology for therapeutic
and  prophylactic vaccination. It has been demonstrated both in vivo and ex vivo
that  PCI significantly increases the  number of activated antigen-specific CTLs
(Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) by enhancing the MHC I antigen presentation of antigen
presenting cells. When applied more specifically to the emerging field of cancer
immunotherapy,  PCI can  be used  to enhance  the important  cytotoxic effect of
therapeutic cancer vaccines.
PCI Biotech follows a strategy to create value by improving the effect both of
existing cancer drugs and by realising the large potential in new therapeutics,
including therapeutic vaccines.

For more information visit: www.pcibiotech.com


Contact information:
PCI Biotech Holding ASA, Strandveien 55, N-1366 Lysaker
Per Walday, CEO, pw@pcibiotech.no, Mobile: +47 917 93 429
Ronny Skuggedal, CFO, rs@pcibiotech.no, Mobile: +47 940 05 757



This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.


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