Immune Targeting Systems Confirms Industry Heavyweight Ken Powell as New Chairman

Immune Targeting Systems (ITS) Ltd, whose synthetic universal influenza-A vaccine enters clinical trials in 2010, today announced that Ken Powell has joined the board as non-executive Chairman. Ken was formerly CEO of Arrow Therapeutics which he led to a successful trade sale to Astra-Zeneca in 2007. The Company also announced the appointment of Dr. Campbell Bunce, formerly Development Director at Piramed, as R&D Director.

Immune Targeting Systems is developing vaccines for mutating viruses. The lead candidate (FP-01) is a synthetic vaccine against all potential seasonal and pandemic influenza strains. This will eliminate the need to remanufacture the vaccine each year in time for the flu season or after a pandemic emerges which is the case for the existing flu vaccines which protect against a very limited number of strains. FP-01 is manufactured synthetically and has an impressive stability profile which would permit Govermment greater flexibility with pandemic planning.

Commenting on the appointments, CEO Carlton Brown said: ” I am delighted Ken has joined the board as we enter an exciting phase in the company’s development. His experience and success as a serial entrepreneur and expertise in the field of virology will be invaluable for the next stage of Company development. Campbell is an important addition to the management team bringing with him an impressive track record in developing vaccines, biologicals and small molecules from early stage to human proof of concept. His leadership and experience will enable us to successfully realise our product development goals.”

Ken Powell added: “ we need truly innovative approaches to viral vaccines and I am delighted to join a company backed by such eminent investors to explore an exciting synthetic vaccine.”

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- Notes to editors -

1. Immune Targeting Systems http://www.its-innovation.co.uk

ITS is a London based biotech company developing synthetic vaccines for mutating viruses. These novel vaccines will target the prevention and treatment of major life-threatening viral infections of global impact, including seasonal & pandemic influenza, Hepatitis-C and B & HIV/AIDS. The Company’s lead program is a temperature stable adjuvant free universal influenza-A vaccine targeting all potential pandemic & seasonal flu strains (H1-H9; human, avian & swine) including swine H1N1 and avian H5N1. This vaccine has the real potential to address key market needs in the seasonal flu vaccine market whilst offering governments a vaccine able to be stockpiled and still be relevant years downstream. Unlike conventional flu vaccine technologies would not require constant adapation and remanufacture each year or after a pandemic threat emerges. The Company has developed an integrated therapeutic T-cell vaccine platform which combines a proprietary vaccine antigen delivery technology with the rational design and validation of vaccine antigens suitable for vaccine delivery. The vaccine platform permits the targeting of mutation prone viruses which cause human disease where disease protection is linked to effective antiviral cell mediated immunity.