Somatix Receives U.S. Patent Covering Method For Treating Glioma

Business Wire, June 27, 1996

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 1996--Somatix Therapy Corp. (NASDAQ: SOMA) announced today that a Patent covering a method for treating glioma has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The U.S. Patent No: 5,529,774, which is exclusively licensed to the company, was originally filed by the University of California at San Diego. Inventors are David Barba, Ph.D. and Fred Gage, Ph.D. Dr. Gage currently serves on the company's Board and Scientific Advisory.

The claims of this patent cover an ex-vivo gene therapy approach to treat glioma, a form of brain cancer. Specifically, the patent claims a system in which retroviral producer cells are implanted near gliomas. The producer cells shed particles that "infect" the rapidly dividing glioma tissue with an agent which renders them open to attack by systemically administered drugs.

Somatix is currently evaluating this method as part of its product development program focused on neural disease and cancer.

Glioma impacts an estimated 11,000 Americans each year. Current treatment regimens offer little benefit for this difficult to treat cancer. A highly specific, targeted gene therapy approach to treat this devastating disease has shown promise in early stage clinical trials.

"Creation of a substantial patent estate has been a key priority for Somatix," stated David W. Carter, Somatix's chairman and chief executive officer. "It is particularly gratifying to have been granted a patent in an area demonstrating encouraging clinical results".

The company's successful strategy to create the most comprehensive patent estate in the field of gene therapy is evidenced by its extensive intellectual property portfolio for in vivo and ex vivo gene delivery.

Somatix's lead product in development, its GVAX(TM) cancer vaccine, is currently in Phase I/II studies for melanoma and a phase I study for prostate cancer.

Somatix Therapy Corp. is a leader in the field of gene therapy. The company intends to research, develop and commercialize proprietary processes for the genetic modification of cells and their use in the treatment of human disease.

Somatix's assets include highly efficient gene transfer technology, broad-based intellectual property and product development programs focused on cancer and degenerative neurological diseases.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as the ultimate application of the company's patents and future actions of the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO").

Actual results may differ substantially from the company's expectations and may be influenced by a variety of factors including actions or inactions by the USPTO or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the other factors listed from time to time by the company in its annual and periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company Report on Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, 1995. -0-

Note to Editors: GVAX is a trademark of Somatix Therapy Corp.

CONTACT: Somatix Therapy Corp.

Bronwyn LeMelle, 510/748-3063 (corporate communications)

Gregory Thayer, 510/748-3025 (intellectual property &

licensing)