Published: July 08, 2011
Family Foundation of Business Leader Invests $4.55 Million in Northwest Biotherapeutics for Promising Clinical Trials in the US and Europe
BETHESDA, Md. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCBB:NWBO) ("NWBT") announced today a $4.55
million equity investment on June 28, 2011, by The Richard M. Schulze
Family Foundation (the "Foundation"). The sale of newly issued common
stock of the Company to the Foundation follows the investment of $3
million, on May 31, 2011, by investment funds managed by Whitebox
Advisors, a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund group headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minnesota ("Whitebox"). The Foundation has been focused for
a number of years on game-changing medical research and treatment
breakthroughs. The Foundation has been a major supporter of basic
research at universities, and clinical programs at medical centers such
as the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic.
NWBT is developing DCVax immune therapies for personalized
treatment of a wide range of cancers. DCVax is a platform
technology which uses a patient's own dendritic cells (the master cells
of the immune system), and biomarkers of the patient's specific type of
cancer. In essence, the dendritic cells are activated and "educated" to
recognize that patient's cancer and mobilize the patient's immune system
to attack it. As such, DCVax is a non-toxic, broad platform
technology which is expected to be applicable to most cancers.
The Company's lead product candidate is DCVax-L, which
targets solid tumor cancers (i.e., cancers in various tissues) such as
Glioblastoma multiforme (''GBM''), the most lethal form of brain cancer.
DCVax-L for GBM is currently in a 240-patient Phase II
clinical trial. In prior clinical trials of DCVax-L for GBM,
the results have been striking. The patients who received DCVax-L
showed a median survival of 3 years, compared with median survival of
only 14.6 months with standard of care today (surgery, radiation and
chemotherapy). The patients treated with DCVax-L did not
have their tumor recur for approximately 2 years, on average, as
compared with tumor recurrence in just 7 months with standard of care
today. Moreover, these patients did not experience any toxicity from
DCVax-L.
"With these additional resources from the Foundation and Whitebox,
augmented by the $25 million equity financing facility through Toucan
Capital which we recently announced, NWBT now has a strong resource base
to pursue the completion of its clinical trials and progress toward
commercialization," said Ms. Linda Powers, CEO of NWBT. "It is
gratifying to see growing support for our vision of DCVax as
a more effective, non-toxic, easier to administer, and less expensive
new treatment for multiple cancers."
"I am impressed by the clinical trial results to date, and encouraged
that the Company is pursuing these trials in both the US and Europe,"
commented Richard M. Schulze, President of The Richard M. Schulze Family
Foundation. "I share NWBT's vision that with its cost-effective
manufacturing, and the simplicity of the DCVax product, like
a flu shot, this new treatment can be made available at reasonable cost
to patients."
About Whitebox Advisors
Whitebox Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser located in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 2000, the firm currently manages over
$2.5 billion and employs 65 professionals.
About Northwest Biotherapeutics
Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on
developing immunotherapy products to treat cancers more effectively than
current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with
chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis. The Company has two broad
platform technologies: dendritic cell-based vaccines and certain
therapeutic antibodies. The Company's lead clinical trial is a
240-patient Phase II trial in newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme
("GBM" ), the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer. The
Company also previously received clearance from the FDA for a
612-patient Phase III trial in prostate cancer, and clearance from the
FDA for Phase I trials in five other cancers. The Company has also
conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax for recurrent
metastatic ovarian cancer. The Company's second technology platform,
involving antibodies to CXCR4, is at the pre-clinical development stage.
For further information about clinical sites and Company information,
please visit the company web site at www.nwbio.com.
Disclaimer
Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts,
including statements concerning future treatment of patients with GBM
using DCVax-L and future clinical trials, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects,"
"believes," "intends," and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially
from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Specifically,
there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those anticipated, such as the Company's
ability to raise additional capital, risks related to the Company's
ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and complete the
trials on a timely basis, the uncertainty of the clinical trials
process, uncertainties about the timely performance of third parties,
and whether the Company's products will demonstrate safety and efficacy.
Additional information on these and other factors, including Risk
Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" ) filings. Finally,
there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the
Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected in any forward-looking statement. You should
not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The
Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements
as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as
required by securities laws.

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Les Goldman, 202-371-7700
lgoldman@skadden.com
Heather
Ford, 410-598-8256
heatherford2@gmail.com
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