Immunovaccine's DPX-Survivac Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - July 15, 2015) - Immunovaccine Inc. ("Immunovaccine" or the "Company") (TSX:IMV)(OTCQX:IMMVF), a clinical stage vaccine and immunotherapy company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), has granted orphan drug status to DPX-Survivac for the treatment of ovarian cancer. This designation is valid for all applications of DPX-Survivac in ovarian cancer without restriction to a specific stage of disease.

DPX-Survivac is the Company's lead clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy. It activates and directs an immune response to the tumor antigen survivin, a protein that is found in tumors of more than 90% of ovarian cancer patients. DPX-Survivac was granted this status following a review by the FDA of pre-clinical and clinical data submitted by the Company. This data included the recently published Phase 1 data in advanced ovarian cancer, which demonstrated strong and durable immune responses in the majority of patients receiving DPX-Survivac in combination with low dose oral cyclophosphamide.

"Receiving Orphan Drug Designation for ovarian cancer underlines the fact that DPX-Survivac may address a significant unmet medical need for this important disease," said Marc Mansour, Chief Executive Officer of Immunovaccine. "Immunotherapy could change the way we treat all cancers in the future and we plan to continue to study of DPX-Survivac for the treatment of ovarian cancer as well as other solid tumor types and blood cancers".

The data package also included a detailed description of a case study demonstrating a significant reduction in tumor size following treatment with DPX-Survivac. In this reported case, a strong and durable immune response was detected after two vaccinations, followed by a gradual and persistent tumor reduction to approximately half of its original size. A persistent drop in the blood marker CA-125 was also observed during that time. This durable partial response may be attributed to the DPX-Survivac immunotherapy and the persistent T cell response generated.

The FDA has previously granted Fast Track Designation for this treatment as a maintenance therapy specifically for patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer who have no measureable disease following their initial surgery and front-line platinum/taxane chemotherapy.

The FDA's orphan drug designation program provides orphan status to drugs and biologics intended to treat, diagnose or prevent rare diseases/disorders, defined as affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

About DPX-Survivac

DPX-Survivac consists of survivin-based peptide antigens formulated in the DepoVax™ adjuvanting platform. Survivin has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a promising tumor-associated antigen (TAA) because of its therapeutic potential and its cancer specificity. Survivin is broadly over-expressed in solid tumors and blood cancers including ovarian, breast, colon and lung cancers, among others. Survivin plays an essential role in antagonizing apoptosis, supporting tumor-associated angiogenesis, and promoting resistance to various anti-cancer therapies. Survivin is also a prognostic factor for many cancers and it is found in high percentage of cancer patients.

The DPX-Survivac vaccine is thought to work by eliciting a cytotoxic T cell immune response against cells presenting survivin peptides on HLA class I molecules. This targeted therapy attempts to use the immune system to actively search for tumor cells expressing survivin and destroy them.

About Immunovaccine

Immunovaccine Inc. develops cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company's DepoVax™ platform, a patented formulation that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system. Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently conducting a Phase 2 study with its lead cancer vaccine therapy, DPX-Survivac, in recurrent lymphoma. DPX-Survivac is expected to enter additional Phase 2 clinical studies in ovarian cancer and glioblastoma (brain cancer). The Company is also advancing an infectious disease pipeline including innovative vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and anthrax.

Connect at www.imvaccine.com

This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Company, including access to capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt of all regulatory approvals. Immunovaccine Inc. assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law.