News Release

Introgen Therapeutics reports advances in RPR/INGN 201 clinical program for treatment of advanced cancers

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Noonan/Russo Communications

Results from studies presented at annual ASCO meeting

New Orleans, LA, May 23, 2000 - Introgen Therapeutics presented data from clinical studies on the safety, transfer and expression of RPR/INGN 201 (Adenoviral p53) in three Phase I clinical studies for the treatment of bronchioalveolar cell lung carcinoma (BAC), ovarian cancer and recurrent glioblastomas at the 36th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. These studies are the subject of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) previously announced by Introgen Therapeutics and its corporate partner for its p53 program, Aventis Pharmaceuticals.

The first report, titled "A Phase I Trial of Ad p53 for Ovarian Cancer Patients: Correlation with p53 & Anti-Adenovirus," is based on research conducted by Judith Wolf, M.D., and her colleagues at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The study was designed to determine the maximum tolerable dose of adenoviral p53, administered intraperitoneally, for ovarian cancer patients and found that the therapy is well tolerated for this patient group at the administered doses.

The second report, titled "Phase I Trial of Adenovirus p53 in Bronchioalveolar Cell Lung Carcinoma Administered by Bronchoalveolar Lavage," is based on research conducted by Samir Kubba, M.D., and colleagues at The Vanderbilt Cancer Center and The University of Wisconsin Cancer Center. This study utilized a direct administration to the lower airways. Symptomatic improvement and improved lung function was reported in some patients.

The third report, titled "Preliminary Results of a Phase I Clinical Trial Of Adenovirus-Mediated p53 Gene Therapy for Recurrent Gliomas: Biological Studies," is based on research conducted by Frederick F. Lang, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and colleagues at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of California at San Francisco under the aegis of the North American Brain Cancer Consortium. The study found that intratumoral injection of Ad-p53 is safe at the administered doses and that the p53 protein is expressed.

"Our CRADA program with the NCI is extending clinical work done by Introgen and Aventis by evaluating new routes of administration and additional indications worthy of further study," said James A. Merritt, M.D., vice president for clinical affairs for Introgen. "These reports demonstrate the substantial progress being made by these investigators in cancer gene therapy, and Introgen is pleased to be working with these leading investigators."

Earlier in the week, Introgen presented additional data at ASCO on its internal programs, showing positive Phase II results using adenoviral p53 in conjunction with radiation therapy for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and strong safety and tolerance data for Phase II trial results using adenoviral p53 for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and NSCLC. The data collected represents the world's largest safety database for adenoviral p53 gene therapy treatment.

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Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. is a leading developer of gene therapy products for the treatment of cancer. Introgen is capitalizing on the significant advances in the understanding of the human genome and the role that gene function plays in the development of cancer. Introgen's drug discovery and development programs have resulted in innovative approaches in which therapeutic genes are used to treat cancer directly addressing the genetic abnormalities of the disease. Introgen's p53 program is being developed in collaboration with Aventis Pharmaceuticals. The companies are beginning Phase III clinical development of the p53 gene therapy for head and neck cancer.

Statements made in this press release about Introgen's technology and clinical trials, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.

Editor's Note: This release is also available on the Internet at: http://www.introgen.com

Contact:

Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.
C. Channing Burke
(512) 708 9310 Ext. 322

Noonan/Russo Communications
Renee Connolly
(212) 696 4455 Ext. 227


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