Study Demonstrates that GM-CSF Blockade in Combination with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy (CAR-T) Prevents the Onset and Severity of Neurotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome

BURLINGAME, Calif., Aug. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Humanigen, Inc., (OTCQB: HGEN) (“Humanigen”), a biopharmaceutical company developing cutting-edge CAR-T optimization and oncology treatments, today announced positive topline results from a preclinical study demonstrating that use of the Company’s proprietary anti-GM-CSF antibody, lenzilumab, along with CD19 targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CART19) reduces neurotoxicity (NT) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and enhances CART19 proliferation and effector functions. 

A complete data set from the study has been submitted for presentation to the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, to be convened in December.  “This is the first time it has been demonstrated that the spectrum of toxicities seen in CART19 clinical trials can be effectively prevented in vivo ,” said Dr. Cameron Durrant, chief executive officer of HGEN.  “We anticipate a highly impactful presentation and believe the totality of this data are very compelling and implicate GM-CSF as the key trigger in the NT and CRS cytokine cascade. We are committed to bringing lenzilumab forward in the near term to help CAR-T cell therapy realize its full potential.”

About Humanigen, Inc.

Humanigen, Inc. develops cutting-edge CAR-T optimization and oncology treatments advancing safer, better, and more effective cancer science. Derived from the company’s Humaneered ® platform, lenzilumab and ifabotuzumab are monoclonal antibodies with first-in-class mechanisms. Lenzilumab, which targets GM-CSF, is in development as a potential medicine to make CAR-T therapy safer and more effective, as well as a potential treatment for rare hematologic cancers such as CMML and JMML. Ifabotuzumab, which targets the Eph type-A receptor 3 (EphA3), is being explored as a potential treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other deadly cancers, as well as a backbone for a novel CAR-T construct and bispecific antibody platform. For more information, visit  www.humanigen.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that are intended to be subject to protection afforded by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and you should be aware that actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential," "possible," "goals," "accelerate," "continue," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations for future development of lenzilumab to help CAR-T therapy reach its full potential. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks inherent in Black Horse Capital and its affiliates owning more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, including their ability to control the company; our lack of profitability and the need for additional capital to operate our business as a going concern; the uncertainties inherent in the development and launch of any new pharmaceutical product; the outcome of pending or future litigation; and the various risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections and elsewhere in the Company's periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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CONTACT:

Investors: Al Palombo 650-243-3181 ir@humanigen.com

Media: media@humanigen.com