PRNewswire - November 6, 2000

David Klatzmann, M.D., Ph.D. and Jean-Loup Salzmann, M.D., Ph.D., consultants to AVAX, developed the technology at the company's Genopoietic subsidiary, in collaboration with Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France and CNRS, Paris, France. The patent specifically relates to a means of vaccination, consisting of a new way of using a plasmid to turn a host cell into a "packaging cell line" producing defective immunogenic viruses in vivo. The patent includes the use of inactive viruses delivered by this technology to humans or animals, including defective viral genomes, and attenuated viruses.

This technology combines the safety and production advantages of DNA-based vaccination with the improved immunogenicity of physical particles. Using this technology, a plasmovirus becomes a vector comprising the structural genes necessary for the constitution of the viral particle. Such a vaccine can then be administered to a person or animal, leading to production of inactive viral particles in the body, followed by immunization against the disease. The objective of this new delivery platform is to generate stronger immune responses in both human and veterinary applications, using inactive virus as the immune stimulant. Published preclinical data support the potential of this delivery model, which may have applications in a number of viral diseases where vaccines do not currently exist, such as herpes, HIV and cytomegalovirus. This technology may also be applied to vaccination against tumor antigens embedded within a plasmovirus.

Jeffrey M. Jonas, president and chief executive officer of AVAX Technologies, stated, "Receipt of this patent is a significant achievement for the company, as it represents a new and exciting approach to vaccinating against a variety of viral diseases that are difficult to treat and prevent.

For many viral diseases, such as those caused by HIV and HLTV-type D retroviruses, current experimental vaccines have proved inadequate with respect to their protective effect. Further, we believe that the issued patent is another example of the extensive research and development capabilities of our Genopoietic subsidiary in France with respect to developing technologies that enhance the immune system's ability to combat disease. Preclinical evaluation of this plasmovirus technology has already been conducted, and we are very encouraged by the early data. Given the potential medical need for such a technology, with the issuance of this patent, AVAX will begin to explore strategic options for this technology, such as appropriate licensing opportunities for human and animal applications, as well as evaluating continued internal development, notably in the field of cancer vaccines where this technology could potentially complement our AC Vaccine(TM) technology."

AVAX Technologies is a biotechnology company with international operations, specializing in the development and commercialization of individualized therapies and other novel technologies primarily focused on cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The company's lead development program is a patented Autologous Cell technology (AC Vaccine(TM)) that attempts to stimulate the patient's own immune system to recognize, contain and eliminate cancer cells. AVAX's lead product, M-Vax(TM), is currently on the market in Australia for the treatment of stage III melanoma. In the United States, AVAX is conducting a pivotal registration trial of M-Vax in Stage III melanoma and a Phase 2 trial in Stage IV melanoma. AVAX is also conducting a multicenter Phase 2 trial in ovarian cancer (O-Vax). The AC Vaccine technology is also being evaluated for its efficacy in other cancers including a Phase 1/2 trial in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (L-VAX(TM)) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and a Phase 1/2 equivalent study in breast cancer (B-Vax(TM)) at the University of Tokyo. AVAX is also developing a gene therapy technology based on the thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene for the treatment of graft versus host disease, cancer and other indications, and autologous chondrocytes for the repair of damaged cartilage. AVAX also provides the commercial service of collecting and storing patients' own tumor cells for potential therapeutic use. AVAX is the first company anywhere to provide this patient-oriented service directly to oncologists, surgeons and their patients. AVAX is based in Kansas City, Missouri, with operations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Paris and Lyon, France; and Melbourne, Australia.

Except for statements that are historical, the statements in this release are "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, and in light of the significant uncertainties inherent in such statements, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by AVAX that the objectives and plans of the company will be achieved; in fact, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Many important factors affect the company's ability to achieve the stated outcomes and to successfully develop and commercialize its product candidates, including, among other things, the ability to obtain and maintain all necessary patents or licenses, to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of product candidates at each stage of development, to meet applicable regulatory standards and receive required regulatory approvals, to meet obligations and required milestones under its license agreements, to be capable of producing drug candidates in commercial quantities at reasonable costs, to compete successfully against other products, obtain substantial additional funds, and to market products in a profitable manner, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in AVAX's public disclosure filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. AVAX does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE AVAX Technologies, Inc. Web Site: http://www.avax-tech.com

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