Epimmune Announces Issuance of Patent for Epitope-Based Vaccines Targeting Hepatitis B Virus

[Guest guest]

Epimmune Announces Issuance of Patent for Epitope-Based Vaccines Targeting

Hepatitis B Virus

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Epimmune Inc. (Nasdaq:

EPMN)

today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,689,363, directed to

compositions and methods of using antigen fragments, or epitopes, to induce

cellular, or T cell, immune responses for the prevention or treatment of

hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The issued claims are directed to

vaccine

compositions made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, identified

using

Epimmune's proprietary epitope identification technology, designed to

provide

broader population coverage than prior vaccines.

Dr. Emile Loria, President and Chief Executive Officer of Epimmune said,

" This is an important patent for the Company coming shortly after our

partner,

Genencor International, Inc., announced its anticipated launch of Phase I

human clinical trials with a therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

our

epitope technology. As we continue our transition from a research based to

a

product and clinical development based company, it is an integral part of

our

strategy to gain additional intellectual property protection for both our

own

and our partnered programs and products. "

About Epimmune Inc.

Epimmune Inc., based in San Diego, is focused on the development of

pharmaceutical products using multiple epitopes to specifically activate the

body's immune system. Epitopes, critical signaling molecules, stimulate the

T

cell arm of the immune system to respond to specific regions of cancer cells

or infectious agents. By combining multiple, selected epitopes into a single

drug candidate, the immune response can be both targeted and optimized for

strength. Epimmune's therapeutic drug candidates have been designed to treat

disease by stimulating the body's immune system to respond aggressively to

infections such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, and tumors

such as breast, colon, lung and prostate. The Company's preventative drug

candidates have been designed to protect against disease by teaching the

body's immune system to react quickly when exposed to infectious agents.

Epimmune's technology can also be used to identify and potentially eliminate

undesirable reactions to therapeutic drugs or consumer products by modifying

specific epitopes to suppress the unwanted immune response. For more

information on Epimmune, visit http://www.epimmune.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect

Epimmune's management's current views of future events, including statements

regarding Epimmune's patent portfolio, the benefits of vaccine compositions

made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, the timing for initiating

human clinical trials for a therapeutic Hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

Epimmune's epitope technology, and the Company's strategy of gaining

additional intellectual property protection for both its own and its

partnered

programs and products. Actual results may differ materially from the above

forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors such as the

risks associated with the Company's patent rights (including the Company's

ability to enforce its patents and other proprietary rights), the utility of

epitope technologies in eliciting an immune response with vaccines, whether

a

vaccine product addressing multiple HBV proteins will provide broader

population coverage than existing vaccines, the utility of the Company's and

its collaborators' technologies, the development and commercialization

efforts

of the Company's collaborators, the ability of Epimmune to maintain its

collaboration agreements, reliance on licensees and collaborators, the

timing

of conducting human clinical trials, the regulatory approval process and the

possibility that testing may reveal undesirable and unintended side effects

or

other characteristics that may prevent or limit the commercial use of

proposed

products. These factors are more fully discussed in the Company's Annual

Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002,

the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the

quarter

ended September 30, 2003 and other periodic reports filed with the

Securities

and Exchange Commission. Epimmune expressly disclaims any intent or

obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by

law.

For further information, please contact: De Vaere, VP, Finance &

Admin. & CFO of Epimmune Inc., +1-858-860-2500; or Chien, General

Information, +1-310-407-6547, lchien@..., or Tricia

Ross, Investor/Analyst Information, +1-310-407-6540,

tross@..., both of Financial Relations Board, for

Epimmune Inc.

SOURCE Epimmune Inc.

Web Site: http://www.epimmune.com

[Guest guest]

Epimmune Announces Issuance of Patent for Epitope-Based Vaccines Targeting

Hepatitis B Virus

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Epimmune Inc. (Nasdaq:

EPMN)

today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,689,363, directed to

compositions and methods of using antigen fragments, or epitopes, to induce

cellular, or T cell, immune responses for the prevention or treatment of

hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The issued claims are directed to

vaccine

compositions made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, identified

using

Epimmune's proprietary epitope identification technology, designed to

provide

broader population coverage than prior vaccines.

Dr. Emile Loria, President and Chief Executive Officer of Epimmune said,

" This is an important patent for the Company coming shortly after our

partner,

Genencor International, Inc., announced its anticipated launch of Phase I

human clinical trials with a therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

our

epitope technology. As we continue our transition from a research based to

a

product and clinical development based company, it is an integral part of

our

strategy to gain additional intellectual property protection for both our

own

and our partnered programs and products. "

About Epimmune Inc.

Epimmune Inc., based in San Diego, is focused on the development of

pharmaceutical products using multiple epitopes to specifically activate the

body's immune system. Epitopes, critical signaling molecules, stimulate the

T

cell arm of the immune system to respond to specific regions of cancer cells

or infectious agents. By combining multiple, selected epitopes into a single

drug candidate, the immune response can be both targeted and optimized for

strength. Epimmune's therapeutic drug candidates have been designed to treat

disease by stimulating the body's immune system to respond aggressively to

infections such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, and tumors

such as breast, colon, lung and prostate. The Company's preventative drug

candidates have been designed to protect against disease by teaching the

body's immune system to react quickly when exposed to infectious agents.

Epimmune's technology can also be used to identify and potentially eliminate

undesirable reactions to therapeutic drugs or consumer products by modifying

specific epitopes to suppress the unwanted immune response. For more

information on Epimmune, visit http://www.epimmune.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect

Epimmune's management's current views of future events, including statements

regarding Epimmune's patent portfolio, the benefits of vaccine compositions

made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, the timing for initiating

human clinical trials for a therapeutic Hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

Epimmune's epitope technology, and the Company's strategy of gaining

additional intellectual property protection for both its own and its

partnered

programs and products. Actual results may differ materially from the above

forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors such as the

risks associated with the Company's patent rights (including the Company's

ability to enforce its patents and other proprietary rights), the utility of

epitope technologies in eliciting an immune response with vaccines, whether

a

vaccine product addressing multiple HBV proteins will provide broader

population coverage than existing vaccines, the utility of the Company's and

its collaborators' technologies, the development and commercialization

efforts

of the Company's collaborators, the ability of Epimmune to maintain its

collaboration agreements, reliance on licensees and collaborators, the

timing

of conducting human clinical trials, the regulatory approval process and the

possibility that testing may reveal undesirable and unintended side effects

or

other characteristics that may prevent or limit the commercial use of

proposed

products. These factors are more fully discussed in the Company's Annual

Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002,

the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the

quarter

ended September 30, 2003 and other periodic reports filed with the

Securities

and Exchange Commission. Epimmune expressly disclaims any intent or

obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by

law.

For further information, please contact: De Vaere, VP, Finance &

Admin. & CFO of Epimmune Inc., +1-858-860-2500; or Chien, General

Information, +1-310-407-6547, lchien@..., or Tricia

Ross, Investor/Analyst Information, +1-310-407-6540,

tross@..., both of Financial Relations Board, for

Epimmune Inc.

SOURCE Epimmune Inc.

Web Site: http://www.epimmune.com

[Guest guest]

Epimmune Announces Issuance of Patent for Epitope-Based Vaccines Targeting

Hepatitis B Virus

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Epimmune Inc. (Nasdaq:

EPMN)

today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,689,363, directed to

compositions and methods of using antigen fragments, or epitopes, to induce

cellular, or T cell, immune responses for the prevention or treatment of

hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The issued claims are directed to

vaccine

compositions made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, identified

using

Epimmune's proprietary epitope identification technology, designed to

provide

broader population coverage than prior vaccines.

Dr. Emile Loria, President and Chief Executive Officer of Epimmune said,

" This is an important patent for the Company coming shortly after our

partner,

Genencor International, Inc., announced its anticipated launch of Phase I

human clinical trials with a therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

our

epitope technology. As we continue our transition from a research based to

a

product and clinical development based company, it is an integral part of

our

strategy to gain additional intellectual property protection for both our

own

and our partnered programs and products. "

About Epimmune Inc.

Epimmune Inc., based in San Diego, is focused on the development of

pharmaceutical products using multiple epitopes to specifically activate the

body's immune system. Epitopes, critical signaling molecules, stimulate the

T

cell arm of the immune system to respond to specific regions of cancer cells

or infectious agents. By combining multiple, selected epitopes into a single

drug candidate, the immune response can be both targeted and optimized for

strength. Epimmune's therapeutic drug candidates have been designed to treat

disease by stimulating the body's immune system to respond aggressively to

infections such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, and tumors

such as breast, colon, lung and prostate. The Company's preventative drug

candidates have been designed to protect against disease by teaching the

body's immune system to react quickly when exposed to infectious agents.

Epimmune's technology can also be used to identify and potentially eliminate

undesirable reactions to therapeutic drugs or consumer products by modifying

specific epitopes to suppress the unwanted immune response. For more

information on Epimmune, visit http://www.epimmune.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect

Epimmune's management's current views of future events, including statements

regarding Epimmune's patent portfolio, the benefits of vaccine compositions

made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, the timing for initiating

human clinical trials for a therapeutic Hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

Epimmune's epitope technology, and the Company's strategy of gaining

additional intellectual property protection for both its own and its

partnered

programs and products. Actual results may differ materially from the above

forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors such as the

risks associated with the Company's patent rights (including the Company's

ability to enforce its patents and other proprietary rights), the utility of

epitope technologies in eliciting an immune response with vaccines, whether

a

vaccine product addressing multiple HBV proteins will provide broader

population coverage than existing vaccines, the utility of the Company's and

its collaborators' technologies, the development and commercialization

efforts

of the Company's collaborators, the ability of Epimmune to maintain its

collaboration agreements, reliance on licensees and collaborators, the

timing

of conducting human clinical trials, the regulatory approval process and the

possibility that testing may reveal undesirable and unintended side effects

or

other characteristics that may prevent or limit the commercial use of

proposed

products. These factors are more fully discussed in the Company's Annual

Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002,

the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the

quarter

ended September 30, 2003 and other periodic reports filed with the

Securities

and Exchange Commission. Epimmune expressly disclaims any intent or

obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by

law.

For further information, please contact: De Vaere, VP, Finance &

Admin. & CFO of Epimmune Inc., +1-858-860-2500; or Chien, General

Information, +1-310-407-6547, lchien@..., or Tricia

Ross, Investor/Analyst Information, +1-310-407-6540,

tross@..., both of Financial Relations Board, for

Epimmune Inc.

SOURCE Epimmune Inc.

Web Site: http://www.epimmune.com

[Guest guest]

Epimmune Announces Issuance of Patent for Epitope-Based Vaccines Targeting

Hepatitis B Virus

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Epimmune Inc. (Nasdaq:

EPMN)

today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,689,363, directed to

compositions and methods of using antigen fragments, or epitopes, to induce

cellular, or T cell, immune responses for the prevention or treatment of

hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The issued claims are directed to

vaccine

compositions made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, identified

using

Epimmune's proprietary epitope identification technology, designed to

provide

broader population coverage than prior vaccines.

Dr. Emile Loria, President and Chief Executive Officer of Epimmune said,

" This is an important patent for the Company coming shortly after our

partner,

Genencor International, Inc., announced its anticipated launch of Phase I

human clinical trials with a therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

our

epitope technology. As we continue our transition from a research based to

a

product and clinical development based company, it is an integral part of

our

strategy to gain additional intellectual property protection for both our

own

and our partnered programs and products. "

About Epimmune Inc.

Epimmune Inc., based in San Diego, is focused on the development of

pharmaceutical products using multiple epitopes to specifically activate the

body's immune system. Epitopes, critical signaling molecules, stimulate the

T

cell arm of the immune system to respond to specific regions of cancer cells

or infectious agents. By combining multiple, selected epitopes into a single

drug candidate, the immune response can be both targeted and optimized for

strength. Epimmune's therapeutic drug candidates have been designed to treat

disease by stimulating the body's immune system to respond aggressively to

infections such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, and tumors

such as breast, colon, lung and prostate. The Company's preventative drug

candidates have been designed to protect against disease by teaching the

body's immune system to react quickly when exposed to infectious agents.

Epimmune's technology can also be used to identify and potentially eliminate

undesirable reactions to therapeutic drugs or consumer products by modifying

specific epitopes to suppress the unwanted immune response. For more

information on Epimmune, visit http://www.epimmune.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect

Epimmune's management's current views of future events, including statements

regarding Epimmune's patent portfolio, the benefits of vaccine compositions

made up of epitopes from multiple HBV proteins, the timing for initiating

human clinical trials for a therapeutic Hepatitis B vaccine incorporating

Epimmune's epitope technology, and the Company's strategy of gaining

additional intellectual property protection for both its own and its

partnered

programs and products. Actual results may differ materially from the above

forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors such as the

risks associated with the Company's patent rights (including the Company's

ability to enforce its patents and other proprietary rights), the utility of

epitope technologies in eliciting an immune response with vaccines, whether

a

vaccine product addressing multiple HBV proteins will provide broader

population coverage than existing vaccines, the utility of the Company's and

its collaborators' technologies, the development and commercialization

efforts

of the Company's collaborators, the ability of Epimmune to maintain its

collaboration agreements, reliance on licensees and collaborators, the

timing

of conducting human clinical trials, the regulatory approval process and the

possibility that testing may reveal undesirable and unintended side effects

or

other characteristics that may prevent or limit the commercial use of

proposed

products. These factors are more fully discussed in the Company's Annual

Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002,

the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the

quarter

ended September 30, 2003 and other periodic reports filed with the

Securities

and Exchange Commission. Epimmune expressly disclaims any intent or

obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by

law.

For further information, please contact: De Vaere, VP, Finance &

Admin. & CFO of Epimmune Inc., +1-858-860-2500; or Chien, General

Information, +1-310-407-6547, lchien@..., or Tricia

Ross, Investor/Analyst Information, +1-310-407-6540,

tross@..., both of Financial Relations Board, for

Epimmune Inc.

SOURCE Epimmune Inc.

Web Site: http://www.epimmune.com