Apthera and TGen Drug Development Services (TD2) Sign Master Services Agreement

TD2 to Provide Strategic Drug Development Services
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(Business Wire)--
Apthera, Inc., a Scottsdale, Arizona-based biotechnology company
focused on cancer immunotherapy, today announced an alliance with TGen
Drug Development Services (TD2) under a Master Services Agreement. TD2
will provide key drug development and regulatory services related to
the clinical development of NeuVax(TM), Apthera's lead immunotherapy
drug indicated for the adjuvant treatment of early-stage,
lymph-node-positive breast cancer that contains the HER2 oncogene.
Apthera is currently preparing NeuVax for pivotal international Phase
III clinical trials.

"We feel that the extra capacity TD2 provides will help accelerate
the development of our lead product, NeuVax, filling in vital,
near-term responsibilities for our rapidly growing Company," said Dr.
Alton C. Morgan, Apthera's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"The clinical team at TD2 is very excited to support Apthera as it
prepares for its pivotal Phase III clinical trial, with the goal to
improve outcomes in women who received adjuvant treatment for breast
cancer, as advances in this arena are still clearly needed," said Dr.
Stephen P. Anthony, Chief Medical Officer of TD2.

About TD2

TGen Drug Development Services (TD2), a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), is located in
the Mayo Collaborative Research Building in Scottsdale, Arizona. TD2
provides innovative services for oncology-focused biopharmaceutical
companies utilizing a dedicated team of professionals with broad
experience and understanding in drug development. TD2 is uniquely
positioned to support the need for improved and accelerated
development of new chemical entities (NCEs) for life-threatening
diseases. TD2 utilizes a unique combination of experience gained
through its contract research organization business, and an integrated
suite of proprietary and non-proprietary tools, preclinical study
execution, regulatory affairs assistance, clinical trial design and
management, and drug development experts to successfully move
therapeutics towards regulatory approval. TD2 is dedicated to reducing
the risks and uncertainty inherent in the drug development process.

About Apthera

Apthera, Inc. is a privately held, Arizona-based biotechnology
company developing a pipeline of peptide-based immunotherapies for
cancers that express HER2/neu, a well-validated and established
oncology target. The Company's lead product, NeuVax, has shown
clinical activity in early-stage breast and prostate cancer. For more
information about the Company visit www.apthera.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are not historical facts and are subject to risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results and the timing of
certain events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied
herein including, without limitation, risks associated with clinical
development, regulatory approvals, product commercialization,
intellectual property claims litigation and other risks associated
with the Company's proposed activities.

Apthera, Inc., Scottsdale
Gail Thurston
Vice President, Corporate Development
480-882-8841
gthurston@apthera.com
or
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Galen Perry, 602-343-8423
gperry@tgen.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008