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PharmaFrontiers to Present Data on Adult Human T-Cell and Stem Cell Technologies at the International Society for Cellular Therapy Annual Meeting.


THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- PharmaFrontiers Corp. (OTCBB:PFTR), a company involved in the development and commercialization of cell therapies, announced today that the Company will present three poster presentations based on their adult human T-cell vaccination and stem cell regenerative medicine platform technologies at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT ISCT - Integrative Social Contract Theory (business ethics)
ISCT - International Society of Cleaning Technicians
) in Berlin at the proArte Hotel on May 5, 2006.

One presentation will highlight data from the Company's proprietary T-cell vaccination technology for the treatment of the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. The presentation highlights the application of a technology platform for the use of attenuated autologous
1. Of or relating to a natural, normal occurrence in a certain type of tissue or in a specific structure of the body.
2. Of or relating to a graft in which the donor and recipient areas are in the same individual.
 autoreactive T-cells for vaccinations in T-cell mediated autoimmunity.

Two additional presentations will highlight data from the Company's proprietary adult human stem cell program for the development of peripheral blood monocyte-derived stem cells and their differentiation to beta islet islets of Langerhans islets of Langerhans Paul 1847-1888.
German pathologist known especially for his histological studies of the skin and pancreas. The islets of Langerhans are named for him.
:
 see pancreas.
  irregular microscopic structures scattered throughout the pancreas and comprising its endocrine portion. They contain the alpha cells, which secrete the hyperglycemic factor glucagon; the beta cells, which secrete insulin; the delta cells, which secrete somatostatin; and the PP (or F ) cells, which secrete pancreatic polypeptide. Degeneration of the beta cells is one of the causes of diabetes mellitus.
 cell clusters for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.

Adult Human T-Cell Technology

"A T-Cell Vaccination for MS-Characterization and Clinical Response"

The objective of the T-cell technology platform is to develop and characterize T-cell vaccination products suitable for assessment of safety and efficacy in human clinical trials. PharmaFrontiers has developed a commercially feasible process for the production of peripheral blood derived autologous T-cell vaccine for multiple sclerosis. The lead T-cell vaccination product for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Tovaxin(TM), is composed of myelin reactive T-cells (MRTC) against the three major proteins of the human myelin sheath. PharmaFrontiers has developed a novel process for the identification and expansion of individuals' MRTCs by screening peripheral blood T-cell reactivity against the entire length of MBP MBP - (Network) Management at Boundary Point
MBP - Macbook Pro (Apple laptop computer)
MBP - Main Booster Pump
MBP - Major Basic Protein
MBP - major binding protein
MBP - Maltose Binding Protein
MBP - Management By Plan
MBP - Mannose Binding Protein
MBP - Marquette Branch Prison (Michigan Department of Corrections)
MBP - Massachusetts Bays Program
MBP - Master Buy Plan
MBP - Metal Binding Protein
MBP - Microstrip Beam Probe
, PLP and MOG specific peptides. Following the identification of the peptide reactivity of a person's autoimmune T-cells, they are grown ex vivo to therapeutic dose levels and attenuated to generate a patient specific T-cell vaccine. Two Phase I/II clinical trials of Tovaxin(TM) in multiple sclerosis have shown a reduction in relapse rate, a lessening of symptoms and improvement in disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS EDSS - Equine Digit Support System
EDSS - Equipment Deployment and Storage System
EDSS - Executive Decision Support System
EDSS - Expanded Disability Status Scale
) in patients. There have been no significant side effects and prolonged remission has been achieved and, in some cases, partial neurological and physiological recovery.

Based on these findings, PharmaFrontiers is commencing a Phase IIb clinical trial with Tovaxin(TM). In theory, the T-cell vaccine elicits a targeted anti-idiotypic immune response against the damaging T-cells, both circulating and at the site of inflammation, and a generalized anti-ergotypic immune response mediated by T-regulatory cells. The combined effects of the anti-idiotypic and anti-ergotypic immune responses are believed to lead to a reduction in the number and activity of myelin specific autoimmune T-cells in the patient. Methods are being developed to detect in vivo, and mimic in vitro, the anti-idiotypic and anti-ergotypic responses thought to be elicited by Tovaxin(TM). Further study with Tovaxin(TM) may lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the T-cell regulatory network and its involvement in autoimmune diseases.

Stem Cell Technology

"The Identification and Characterization of Monocyte-Derived Stem Cell"

The objective of the adult stem cell technology platform is to develop, characterize and produce stem cells and/or differentiated mature cells of various lineages as products for replacement and regenerative medicine therapy. PharmaFrontiers has developed a commercially feasible process for the dedifferentiation
dedif·fer·enti·ate v.
 of peripheral blood monocytes to a multipotent stem cell. Characterization of these monocyte-derived stem cells (MDSC) has revealed their capacity to be differentiated to several cell types including, but not limited to, macrophage, lymphocyte, epithelial, endothelial, neuronal, beta cell, and hepatocyte cells. The main focus is the further development of this monocyte-derived stem cell technology as a novel platform for the in vitro generation of highly specialized cells for potential application in autologous cell therapy for patients with diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease

"Differentiation of Monocyte-Derived Stem Cell Into Pancreatic Islet-Like Cells"

The objective of the type 1 diabetes stem cell technology platform is to develop, characterize and produce pancreatic islet-like cells as products for beta-cell replacement therapy. PharmaFrontiers has isolated a novel multipotent stem cell from peripheral blood monocytes. In vitro experiments with monocyte-derived stem cells (MDSC) have shown their capacity to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types including pancreatic beta cells which form into cell aggregates and generate into cluster-like structures that resemble pancreatic islets of langerhans. Characterization of the endocrine activity of these cluster-like structures will be presented. An advantage of these adult MDSC over other types of stem cells is the ability to easily isolate them from an individual's circulating monocytes, expand them and administer them back into the same patient. This autologous approach provides a method to overcome any rejection issues and the need for immunosuppressant immunosuppressant /im·mu·no·sup·pres·sant/ (-sah-pres´ant) an agent capable of suppressing immune responses.

im·mu·no·sup·pres·sant (m
 drugs which are often associated with current transplantations. This technology may lead to the formation of an unlimited source of beta cells suitable for an autologous cell therapy for the treatment of Type I diabetes mellitus.

About PharmaFrontiers Corp.

PharmaFrontiers' strategy is to develop and commercialize cell therapies to treat several major disease areas such as cardiac and pancreatic conditions, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. PharmaFrontiers owns patented and proprietary individualized cell therapies that are in FDA Phase I/II human dose ranging clinical trials to evaluate their safety and effectiveness in treating MS. The company also holds the exclusive worldwide license for an autologous T cell vaccine for rheumatoid arthritis from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China. The company also holds the exclusive worldwide license from the University of Chicago, through its prime contractor relationship with Argonne National Laboratory, for patents relating to the use of adult pluripotent stem cells derived from patients' own circulating blood.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements about PharmaFrontiers' growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to PharmaFrontiers' ability to obtain additional funding, develop its stem cell technologies, achieve its operational objectives, and obtain patent protection for its discoveries, that may cause PharmaFrontiers' actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. PharmaFrontiers undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Mar 28, 2006
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