Biomune Systems Inc. announces preliminary results of animal study to test activity of Immuno-C(tm) on prostate cancer.

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 1994--Biomune Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BIME) Monday announced encouraging preliminary results of an in vivo animal study which exhibited Immuno-C(tm)'s efficacy in reducing the growth rate of prostate cancer tumors by 11 percent.

Dr. Joseph A. Smith Jr. and Dr. Mitchell S. Steiner of Vanderbilt University are principal investigators of the study.

Based on data from a separate study done at Vanderbilt University that discovered an overproduction of an immune suppressing agent in the presence of prostate cancer cells, Dr. Smith selected Immuno-C(tm) to test a theory that an immune modulating agent (Immuno-C(tm)) may counteract the immunosuppression caused by the cancer cells and thus act to control, reduce and/or eliminate the tumor.

Dr. Smith said, ``The results of these initial tests on Immuno-C(tm) are preliminary only and are by no means definitive at this stage; however, they do open up a new area of exploration.'' Rather than treating tumors directly, this method treats the immune system whose function is to control the tumor itself.

The 11 percent reduction in tumorigenicity was observed when doses of the drug were administered for one week to rats with prostate cancer tumors. Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Smith said the test method involved male rats, each inoculated twice with one million prostate tumor cells. Eight days after inoculation, the rats were divided into five study groups: four groups receiving different dosages of the drug and a control group receiving a placebo.

The immune suppressing agent caused by prostate cancer cells is known as TGF-B(1). ``The immune system plays a major role in preventing tumors, by suppressing their growth and preventing their spread to other parts of the body,'' said Dr. Smith.

``However, it's a catch-22; the immune system is the body's defense -- which is needed most in the presence of these cancer cells, yet these cells produce their own defense against the immune system. There is a possibility that Immuno-C(tm) can enhance the debilitated immune system and thus control growth of prostate cancer tumors,'' said Dr. Frank A. Eldridge, executive vice-president of New Product Development for Biomune.

Numerous studies in Immuno-C(tm) in animals, conducted by Dr. David O. Lucas, a specialist in the company's immune technology, show that when Immuno-C(tm) is mixed with bacteria and polymorphonuclear cells from bovine, equine or human blood, the drug has opsonic ability to stimulate immune response, and thus to help eliminate disease. Further studies are being planned to explore Immuno-C(tm)'s ability to help the body overcome the immunosuppression caused by prostate cancer cells producing TGF-B(1).

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States (166,000 new cases and 32,000 deaths estimated this year).

Biomune Systems Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of an immune science designed to enhance the body's own ability to fight disease. For further information contact Joy Erickson at Biomune Systems Inc. at 801/582-2345 or Sovran Financial Corp. at 305/752-6188.

CONTACT: Biomune Systems Inc., Salt Lake City

              Joy Erickson, 801/582-2345
              or
              Sovran Financial Corp., Coral Springs, Fla.
              Rick Dwyer, 305/752-6188