PCI Biotech announces activation of Oslo University Hospital as a new clinical site

Oslo, 31 August 2015 - PCI Biotech (PCIB) the Norwegian biopharmaceutical company, reported today that Oslo University Hospital has been activated as a new clinical site in the phase I/II study of Amphinex in patients with inoperable bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).

Principal Investigator at Oslo University Hospital, Dr. Svein Dueland, said: "Bile duct cancer is a devastating disease lacking good treatment options for a majority of the patients. PCI of gemcitabine with Amphinex is an innovative treatment concept that could potentially give significant local tumour response in these patients. I look forward to working on this study, which is well designed to demonstrate a potential clinical benefit of Amphinex induced PCI of gemcitabine in bile duct cancer patients."

Per Walday, CEO of PCI Biotech, said: "I’m delighted with the activation of Oslo University Hospital as a contributing site for this study. The PCI technology originates from this hospital and it will be a pleasure to work closely with these highly competent investigators to progress the study as quickly as possible. Bile duct cancer has a high need of new local treatment options and the specific attributes of the PCI technology fits well with this disease and its unmet medical need."

About PCI Biotech

PCI Biotech is a cancer focused biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Axess). The company is developing therapeutic products based on its proprietary photochemical internalization (PCI) technology. Originating from world leading research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, the PCI technology works by inducing triggered endosomal release and may be used to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities, such as small molecules, vaccines and nucleic acids.

The company currently has a bile duct cancer program in phase I/II clinical development. Bile duct cancer is an orphan indication without any approved medicinal products and a high medical need for better local treatments. It is an indication well suited for PCI treatment, with easy light access for intraluminal surface illumination through routine endoscopic methods and an active generic drug (gemcitabine) significantly enhanced by PCI.

The company is also developing PCI as a CTL (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte) induction technology for therapeutic and prophylactic vaccination. It has been demonstrated both in vivo and ex vivo that PCI significantly increases the number of activated antigen-specific CTLs by enhancing the MHC I antigen presentation of antigen presenting cells. When applied in the emerging field of cancer immunotherapy, PCI can be used to enhance the important cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

PCI Biotech follows a strategy to create value by improving the effect both of existing cancer drugs and by realizing the large potential in new therapeutics, including therapeutic vaccines.

Contact information:
PCI Biotech Holding ASA, Strandveien 55, N-1366 Lysaker
Per Walday, CEO, pw@pcibiotech.no, Mobile: +47 917 93 429
Ronny Skuggedal, CFO, rs@pcibiotech.no, Mobile: +47 940 05 757