Ex Vivo Therapies Acquires Caremark interest in Joint Venture to Commercialize AIDS Ex Vivo Therapies; Site Validation Completed for First Commercial Cell Processing Center

Business Wire, Nov 17, 1994

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1994--Applied Immune Sciences Inc. (AIS)(NASDAQ/NMS:AISX) announced Thursday that Ex vivo Therapies (ExVT), a joint venture of AIS and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. (RPR) formed in 1993 to perform ex vivo cell processing, has acquired Caremark International's 50% interest in a joint venture with AIS established in 1991 for the commercialization of AIDS ex vivo therapies in North America.

ExVT had previously acquired AIS' 50% interest in the joint venture with Caremark in connection with ExVT's formation in Sept. 1993.

AIS also announced that ExVT has completed facility validation of ExVT's first commercial cell processing center in Torrance, Calif. This cell processing center will be the U.S. site for the upcoming AIS Phase III trial in metastatic (advanced) kidney cancer.

A separate facility in South San Francisco, established in 1992 by the AIS/Caremark joint venture and fully acquired by ExVT today, will continue to process cells for the AIS clinical trial programs in AIDS and will serve as a development center for new therapies in a variety of indications. ExVT will also develop additional cell processing centers that will service AIS and RPR Gencell, a division of RPR dedicated to the acceleration of discovery and development of cell and gene therapies for cancer, cardiovascular disease and nervous system disorders.

James G. Smith has been named General Manager of the worldwide network of ExVT cell processing centers. He will oversee all operations, including the completion of new centers which are planned for the Eastern United States, Europe and Japan. Thomas Okarma, chairman, chief executive and chief scientific officer of AIS, will assume Smith's previous responsibilities as chief operating officer and president of AIS.

Applied Immune Sciences develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative cell and gene therapy products designed to enhance and restore the immune system in immune-related conditions such as bone marrow transplantation and autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases.

In 1993, the company entered into a strategic alliance with Rhone-Poulenc Rorer that included equity financing, a research and development collaboration, and a worldwide joint venture to develop a network of cell processing centers to accelerate the commercialization of AIS cell and gene therapy products. Products are now in human clinical trials for bone marrow transplantation and the treatment of AIDS and cancer.

CONTACT: Applied Immune Sciences, Santa Clara

Jackie Cossmon, 408/492-9200