Viventia Biotech Inc. (TSX: VBI) today announced that it had completed the enrolment of patients for its second Phase I clinical study of Proxinium(TM) for the treatment of advanced, recurrent head and neck cancer.

This second study, which enrolled 20 patients, was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of Proxinium(TM) monotherapy over a more intensive dosing schedule than that studied in the first Phase I trial. As for the first study, preliminary clinical data from this second clinical trial continues to support the favourable safety profile of Proxinium(TM), with mostly mild treatment-related side effects noted. In addition, as reported previously, objective tumour responses have also been observed in this second study. Interim results are expected to be released by the end of Q1 2005, and full clinical data is expected to be published at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in May 2005.

President and CEO Dr. Nick Glover said: "Viventia set aggressive clinical development milestones in 2004, and we have met and exceeded those representations. In total we dosed 44 patients in our two Phase I studies, amassing a compelling safety and efficacy database. We have initiated a dialogue with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss the next steps in the clinical development of Proxinium(TM), and remain on track to initiate advanced clinical trials in mid-2005".

About head and neck cancer:

Head and neck cancer, comprising cancers of the larynx, tongue, mouth, oral cavity, and pharynx, is the sixth most common form of cancer globally. In the United States over 50,000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed annually. Despite aggressive measures, such as radical surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy, as well as concerted efforts from clinicians to eradicate these tumours, long-term survival rates have not improved in the last 30 years and the five year survival rate remains less than 40%. As more than two-thirds of patients present with advanced disease, curative treatments are often not possible. Compounding the poor prognosis for survival are the often devastating effects these tumours and their treatment can have on quality of life outcomes.

About Proxinium(TM):

Proxinium(TM) is Viventia's lead Armed Antibodies(TM) drug candidate and is a targeted therapeutic consisting of a proprietary antibody fragment conjugated with a cancer-killing payload. Proxinium(TM) targets a cell surface protein found on most head and neck cancers and has been designed to deliver a therapeutically potent anti-cancer payload directly to tumours, avoiding healthy, normal tissue.

Viventia Biotech Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company advancing a new generation of monoclonal antibody therapeutics designed to offer safer, more beneficial therapies for cancer patients. Viventia's fully integrated technology platform is based upon the isolation of human monoclonal antibodies from cancer patients and their subsequent development as Armed Antibodies(TM), delivering cancer-killing payloads directly to cancer cells. Viventia's lead product candidate Proxinium(TM) is in clinical development for the treatment of head and neck cancer and bladder cancer, and several other product candidates are in pre-clinical development.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties inherent to the process of developing and commercializing human therapeutic products. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in this release. Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "will", "may", "should" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events. These statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to the clinical and developmental timelines associated with Proxinium. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

/For further information: Domenic LoParco - Manager, Investor Relations, Viventia Biotech Inc., 10 Four Seasons Place, Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario, M9B 6H7, (416) 641-4585, dloparco(at)viventia.com/

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