BioWa and Aphton Announce Licensing of BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology

BioWa and Aphton Announce Licensing of BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology

February 14, 2006

Aphton to Use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) Antibody Technology for Development of Preclinical IGN312 Anti-Lewis Y antibody

    PRINCETON, N.J. and PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- BioWa, Inc. and Aphton Corporation
today announced that BioWa has granted a non-exclusive
license to Apthon's wholly-owned subsidiary, Igeneon, to
use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology for the development
of IGN312, a humanized monoclonal Lewis Y-specific
antibody. Aphton, through Igeneon, develops IGN312 as a
next-generation antibody based on IGN311, which is
currently in a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with
Lewis Y-positive cancers. 

    Aphton plans to use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology
for the development of a next-generation Lewis Y-specific
antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular
cytotoxicity (ADCC).  Lewis Y is a tumor-related antigen
expressed in up to 90% of all epithelial cancers, which
include breast, colon, gastric and pancreatic cancers.
BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology has the potential to
increase the ADCC activity of an antibody, resulting in
greater capacity to destroy tumor cells.

    "We are very pleased to be working with an
innovative cancer immunotherapy company like Igeneon, who
has successfully progressed its antibody program to the
clinical stage," said Nobuo Hanai, Ph.D., President
and CEO of BioWa, Inc.  "This licensing agreement
enforces BioWa's strategy to bring about more effective and
safe treatments for cancer." 

    "We look forward to the rapid application of the
POTELLIGENT(TM) technology, which has the potential to
effectively increase the potency of IGN312 as an
anti-cancer treatment," said Patrick Mooney, MD,
Chairman and CEO of Aphton Corporation. "Entering into
this partnership with BioWa is an important step in our
efforts to continue to develop promising product candidates
to fuel our clinical pipeline in the future." 

    This agreement was mediated by FHR Consult (
http://www.fhrconsult.com ) on behalf of BioWa.

    About IGN311 and IGN312 

    IGN311 is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the
Lewis Y carbohydrate antigen, a blood-group-related
oligosaccharide. Lewis Y is over-expressed in up to 90% of
all epithelial cancers and its expression on adult normal
tissues is very restricted; hence IGN311 has the potential
to target a broad range of carcinomas.  IGN311 is designed
to exert clinical effects by destruction of tumor cells by
activation of effector functions and by selective growth
inhibition via functional receptors.  IGN312 is a
next-generation antibody based on IGN311.

    About Aphton Corporation

    Aphton Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company
focused on developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer. 
Aphton's products seek to empower the body's own immune
system to fight disease. Through the acquisition of Igeneon
AG in March 2005, Aphton acquired late-stage products,
IGN101, a cancer vaccine designed to induce an immune
response against EpCAM-positive tumor cells, as well as
IGN311 and IGN312. Aphton has strategic alliances with Xoma
for treating gastrointestinal and other gastrin-sensitive
cancers using anti-gastrin monoclonal and other antibodies;
Daiichi Pure Chemicals for the development, manufacturing
and commercialization of gastrin-related diagnostic kits;
and Celltrion for the development, manufacturing and
commercialization of IGN311 in certain countries in Asia. 
Aphton's most advanced product, Insegia(TM), targets the
hormone, gastrin 17, in an attempt to treat
gastrointestinal cancers. Aphton is currently seeking
partners to support the further development of Insegia. For
more information about Aphton or its programs please visit
Aphton's website at http://www.aphton.com .

    About POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology 

    ADCC activity is an important function of the human
immune system, whereby immune cells can kill target cells,
e.g. cancer cells.  As demonstrated by several anti-cancer
therapeutic antibodies in the market today, ADCC activity
plays a critical mechanism in the killing of tumor cells. 
Enhancement of this activity is one promising approach in
the next generation of antibody technologies. 
POTELLIGENT(TM) technology involves the reduction of the
amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an
antibody.  Research shows that POTELLIGENT(TM) technology
significantly enhances ADCC activity in vitro and in vivo.
One potential benefit of POTELLIGENT(TM) technology derived
therapeutic antibodies is greater tumor cell killing
activity than with conventional antibodies. 

    About BioWa, Inc.

    BioWa, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko
Kogyo Co., Ltd., Japan's leading pharmaceutical and largest
biotech company. BioWa is the exclusive worldwide licensor
of POTELLIGENT(TM) technology, which creates high ADCC
monoclonal antibodies. BioWa is currently developing ADCC
enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight
cancer, asthma and other life-threatening and debilitating
diseases and both BioWa and Kyowa have POTELLIGENT(TM)
antibody products in various clinical stages.  BioWa
creates and develops enhanced ADCC antibodies for itself
and others, offering a full range of antibody discovery and
development capabilities.  For more information about BioWa
visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com .

    POTELLIGENT(TM) is the trademark of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo
Co., Ltd.  All rights are reserved.

    Safe Harbor

    This press release includes forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws,
including statements about Aphton's expectations regarding:
(1) Aphton's plan to use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology
for the development of a next-generation Lewis Y-specific
antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular
cytotoxicity; (2) the potential of BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM)
technology to increase the ADCC activity of an antibody,
resulting in greater capacity to destroy tumor cells; (3)
the potential benefits to Aphton resulting from the
licensing agreement, including the rapid application of the
POTELLIGENT(TM) technology in an attempt to effectively
increase the potency of IGN312 as an anti-cancer treatment;
(4) Aphton's belief that this new relationship with BioWa is
an important first step in Aphton's efforts to continue to
develop promising product candidates to fuel Aphton's
clinical pipeline in the future; (5) the potential of
IGN311 to target a broad range of carcinomas, destroy tumor
cells, and exert clinical effects by destruction of tumor
cells; and (6) Aphton's intent to seek partners to further
support the development of Insegia. These forward-looking
statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Aphton
undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the
date hereof. This information is qualified in its entirety
by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure
contained in Aphton's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, including Aphton's report on Form 10-K filed with
the Commission on March 16, 2005. These risk factors
include, but are not limited to: (1) the risks and
uncertainties inherent in the drug development process and
in Aphton's business; (2) the ability of Aphton and BioWa
to successfully collaborate in the research and development
of IGN312; (3) the possibility that BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM)
technology may not have the desired effect on antibodies;
(4) the timing or results of ongoing and future clinical
trials for IGN312; (5) the ability of Aphton to obtain
regulatory approval for IGN312, fund the development,
manufacture and commercialization of IGN312, and gain
commercial acceptance of IGN312; (6) the ability of any
approved third parties to manufacture and supply IGN312 in
commercial quantities; (7) the ability of Aphton to fund
the development, manufacturing and commercialization of
IGN312; (8) Aphton's ability to find a partner who will
support the further development of Insegia; (9)
intellectual property risks; (10) the impact of competitive
products and pricing; and (10) changing economic
conditions.

    For more information, please contact:  

     Nobuo Hanai, Ph.D., 
     President and CEO
     BioWa, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone] x7501

     Martina Molsbergen, 
     Vice President, Business Development
     BioWa, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone] x7506

     Patrick Mooney, 
     M.D., President and CEO, 
     Aphton Corporation
     Tel:   [phone]

     Gerda Redl, Ph.D., 
     Vice President, Business Management
     Aphton Corporation
     Tel:   [phone]

SOURCE  BioWa, Inc.