Exhibit 99.1
For more information:
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Investor Relations Media Relations
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Corixa Corporation ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Bioscience
206.754.5716 503.443.7000
▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND MDS NORDION SIGN NEW SEVEN YEAR
BEXXAR MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT
New Agreement Extends Existing BEXXAR Manufacturing Relationship
SEATTLE AND OTTAWA, ONTARIO, JUNE 23, 2003 -- Corixa Corporation (NASDAQ: CRXA),
a developer of immunotherapeutics, and MDS Nordion today announced that the
companies have signed a new seven year manufacturing agreement in which MDS
Nordion will continue to radiolabel the antibody in BEXXAR(R) (tositumomab and
iodine I-131 tositumomab) therapy. BEXXAR therapy is an investigational
radioimmunotherapy being co-developed by Corixa and GlaxoSmithKline and is in
the final stages of regulatory review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
The new supply agreement replaces the existing development, supply and
facilities agreements entered into in 1995 and 1998, respectively.
"Our new agreement with MDS Nordion marks an important extension of our ongoing
manufacturing relationship," said ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ph.D., chairman and chief
executive officer of Corixa. "Through our continued collaboration, we expect to
be able to provide a timely supply of BEXXAR therapy to patients in need for
many years to come."
"MDS Nordion is pleased to have concluded this new agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇," said
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, senior vice-president, nuclear medicine, MDS Nordion. "We believe
radioimmunotherapeutic products have the potential to significantly improve the
well being of patients with cancer."
BEXXAR therapy contains a radiolabeled antibody (tositumomab) which is linked to
an isotope (I-131). Under a separate agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG
produces bulk tositumomab, which is sent to MDS Nordion for radiolabeling.
ABOUT MDS NORDION
MDS Nordion is a leading developer and supplier of medical isotopes used to
diagnose, prevent and treat diseases such as cancer and heart disease. MDS
Nordion is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with production facilities in
Vancouver, Canada, and Fleurus, Belgium. MDS Nordion produces a wide variety of
diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotopes and distributes them to
radiopharmaceutical producers and researchers in over 80 countries around the
world, usually in less than 24 hours.
-MORE-
MDS Nordion is also a world leader in sterilization technology for medical and
consumer products as well as therapy systems for cancer. For further
information, please visit ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇. MDS Nordion is part of MDS Inc.
(NYSE: MDZ; TSX: MDS), an international health and life sciences company.
ABOUT CORIXA
▇▇▇▇▇▇ is a developer of immunotherapeutics with a commitment to treating and
preventing autoimmune diseases, cancer and infectious diseases by understanding
and directing the immune system. Corixa is focused on immunotherapeutic products
and has a broad technology platform enabling both fully integrated vaccine
design and the use of its separate, proprietary product components on a
standalone basis. Corixa currently has multiple programs in clinical
development, including several product candidates that have advanced to and
through late stage clinical trials.
The company partners with numerous developers and marketers of pharmaceuticals,
targeting products that are Powered by Corixa(TM) technology with the goal of
making its potential products available to patients around the world. Corixa was
founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, with additional operations in
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Mont., and South San Francisco. For more information, please visit
▇▇▇▇▇▇'s Web site at ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.
CORIXA FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
about commercialization of BEXXAR therapy and our ability to provide a timely
supply of BEXXAR therapy and other statements about our plans, objectives,
intentions and expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made. They
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that could affect ▇▇▇▇▇▇'s
actual results include, but are not limited to, the risk that we are unable to
execute our commercialization strategy, the risk that we are unable to produce a
timely supply of BEXXAR therapy and the "Factors Affecting Our Operating
Results, Our Business and Our Stock Price," described in our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, copies of which are available
from our investor relations department. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this release.
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