apceth Biopharma GmbH Manufactures DCprime’s Cell-Based Cancer Vaccine for Phase II Clinical Study

Munich, Germany, November 16, 2018 - apceth Biopharma GmbH, an established contract manufacturing organization in the field of gene and cell therapy, has started supplying clinical batches of DCprime’s cell-based cancer vaccine DCP-001 to a phase II clinical study for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). AML is a haematological cancer characterized by high risk of relapse, even after initial response to chemotherapy. Cancer vaccination with dendritic cells could be a successful strategy to boost the patient’s immune system and result in lasting disease control. DCprime announced yesterday that the first patient has been treated with the product DCP-001 at the Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC).

“We are proud to be the manufacturing partner of DCprime for DCP-001, the first off-the shelf dendritic cell vaccine in a cancer indication with high unmet medical need”, explained Dr Christine Günther, CEO of apceth Biopharma. “Our long-term collaboration with DCprime has always been constructive and cooperative, from technology transfer to the large-scale manufacturing process.”

Dr Erik Manting, CEO of DCprime, commented: "Based on the recently published encouraging results of the phase I trial with our lead product DCP-001, we aim to confirm these results in the phase II ADVANCE-II trial and we are happy with the enrollment of the first patient. We would like to thank the apceth Biopharma team for their important contribution to the manufacturing of our product."

About apceth Biopharma GmbH

apceth Biopharma is a pioneering company in cell therapies and regenerative medicine with an innovative portfolio of drug candidates for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity and solid tumors. apceth is developing two proprietary next generation gene therapy products, which are based on the introduction of therapeutic transgenes into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). apceth-201 expresses the immunomodulatory protein alpha-1 antitrypsin for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease. The company’s second program, apceth-301, expresses a potent immunostimulatory “cocktail” of cytokines, which locally activates the immune system to eradicate tumor cells. apceth-301 is currently being developed for glioblastoma as well as for other solid tumors.

apceth Biopharma is also a leading and certified Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization for cell and gene therapeutics with a broad international customer base. apceth owns state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with Grade B/A, C and D cleanrooms (ISO 5, ISO 7, ISO 8, BSL2) and is certified according to regulatory requirements for cell and gene therapies (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, ATMPs). The company has a comprehensive expertise in GMP manufacturing of autologous and allogeneic cell types that are either native or genetically modified. It has long-standing experience with various cell products, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), lymphocytes, monocytes, dendritic cells, cord blood derived stem cells, and has the potential to expand to CAR-T and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies. apceth has successfully obtained manufacturing licenses for multiple cell therapy products for clinical as well as commercial use. apceth’s CDMO team provides fully customized solutions in the development and production of every customer product and process. Located centrally in the heart of Europe, apceth can perform efficient and fast supply for patients all over the continent.