Medicenna Strengthens Patent Portfolio for its Lead Clinical Candidate, MDNA55

TORONTO and HOUSTON, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or "the Company"), a publicly listed clinical stage immuno-oncology company (TSXV: "MDNA"), today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent related to the Company's lead clinical candidate MDNA55. U.S. Patent 9,629,899, issued to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and licensed exclusively to Medicenna, covers the combination of MDNA55 with other anti-cancer therapeutic agents. 

"Medicenna continues to progress with the Phase 2b clinical trial of MDNA55 as a single agent, targeted immunotherapeutic for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, a uniformly fatal form of brain cancer," said Dr. Fahar Merchant, Chairman, President and CEO of Medicenna. "Given the unique dual-targeted mechanism of MDNA55, and its synergistic effect when combined with other therapeutics, the issued patent will allow us to further improve patient outcomes and establish drug development partnerships for new cancer indications."

Medicenna continues to strategically expand its Superkine and Empowered Cytokine platforms which comprises over 40 filed or issued patents in key territories including US, Canada, EU and Asia.

About MDNA55
MDNA55 is a dual-targeted form of immunotherapy designed to purge tumor cells and adjacent immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment that over-express the interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R), which is frequently expressed in a majority of patients with glioblastoma and common in other aggressive forms of cancer. By directly eliminating tumor cells and boosting a therapeutic immune response, MDNA55 provides a two-pronged approach to treat cancer. MDNA55 has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA and Orphan Drug Status from both the FDA and EMA. Earlier results from three Phase 1 and 2a clinical trials in 66 patients with recurrent glioblastoma showed potent anti-tumor effects without drug-related systemic toxicity in the majority of patients.

A summary of clinical data from earlier Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials can be found on Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.'s website at http://www.medicenna.com/Our-Lead-Program/Clinical-Trials/default.aspx.  

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the progress in our Phase 2b clinical trial, that MDNA55 may have a synergistic effect when combined with other anti-cancer agents that could improve patient outcomes, that the issued patent will allow us to further improve patient outcomes, that we will be able to establish drug development partnerships for new cancer indications, future plans and objectives of the Company and others are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the filing statement of the Company dated February 27, 2017 and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.

Company Contacts: Fahar Merchant, President & Chief Executive Officer, Medicenna Therapeutics Corp., 604-671-6673, [email protected]; Elizabeth Williams, Chief Financial Officer, Medicenna Therapeutics Corp., 416-648-5555, [email protected]