ASX/Media Release (Code: PRR)24 October 2011Prima BioMed...

ASX/Media Release (Code: PRR)
24 October 2011
Prima BioMed launches partnership with The City Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City to commercialise CVacTM in the Middle East
Australian health care company Prima BioMed Ltd (ASX: PRR) (Prima) is pleased to announce the formal launch of its partnership with The City Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) to make the CVacTM immunotherapy ovarian cancer vaccine commercially available in the Middle East region.
The program was officially launched yesterday, Sunday October 23, at a ceremony to mark the third anniversary of The City Hospital, and comes after Prima announced in May that it had been granted approval for the marketing and distribution of CVacTM in DHCC.
Prima expects to be in a position to commence the first sales of CVacTM in DHCC before the end of 2011.
This represents a significant milestone for Prima. It is the first commercialisation of CVacTM anywhere in the world, and allows the Company to provide treatment for cancer patients in the Middle Eastern region and generate revenues in a growing health care market.
Prima was represented at the launch by its Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director Dr Neil Frazer. The launch was also attended by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emerates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai.
Prima BioMed Chief Medical Officer Dr Neil Frazer, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the official launch of our program with The City Hospital to make CVacTM commercially available to cancer patients throughout the Middle East region. This is an important pilot commercialisation program for CVacTM, and we are also excited at the potential to expand the application of CVacTM in the UAE to treat other mucin-1 positive tumours.”
Dr. Fadi Mikhael, who will lead the CVacTM program at The City Hospital said: “The approval for the provision of CVac™ by The City Hospital, in partnership with Prima BioMed, is a huge milestone for cancer care not only in Dubai but the region as a whole. This treatment offers hope to thousands of women living in the Middle East who are suffering from ovarian cancer. We hope in time to be able to extend the application of CVac™ to other mucin-1 positive tumours – and treat other types of cancer.”
Launch of Therapeutic Apheresis program
At the same time, Prima also announced the launch of another partnership with The City Hospital, for the launch of a Therapeutic Apheresis service. The Therapeutic Apheresis program will provide a treatment that removes harmful proteins, chemicals or cells in blood that cause disease.