About NovaRx

NovaRx Corporation is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel cell-based therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer. The company was founded in San Diego, California in May 1997 in order to commercialize the award-winning research of Dr. Habib Fakhrai and his associates at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in San Diego and at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. The proprietary core technology has been exclusively licensed to NovaRx on a worldwide basis.

The company’s headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in a 24,000 sq. foot facility located in the heart of San Diego’s thriving biotechnology community. At present, it has more than 50 employees, 10 of whom hold advanced scientific degrees.

NovaRx’s lead product candidate is Lucanix®, a whole cell-based vaccine comprised of four allogeneic cell lines. Lucanix™ has successfully completed two Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced stage (IIIB and IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NovaRx is now initiating the pivotal Phase III trial, the final step before FDA approval.

In October 2006, Justin M. Murdock, senior vice president of investments for both Castle & Cooke, Inc. and Dole Food Company, Inc., gained majority ownership of the company through a private investment, and became NovaRx’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Until this point, the company’s operations had been funded entirely by a combination of government grants and private investments.

The FDA granted Lucanix® Fast-Track status in February 2007, and approved NovaRx’s Special Protocol Assessment design for Phase III testing In January 2008, allowing the company to treat stages III and IV non-small cell lung cancer patients. The trial will be conducted at the NCI/NIH, Mayo Clinics, UCSD, Rush Hospital, and up to 85 other centers in the US, Canada, Europe, and India.

In addition to Lucanix®, NovaRx is developing treatments for other types of cancer including prostate, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, colorectal carcinoma, glioma, lymphoma, and melanoma. Company leaders are also considering developing this technology into a prophylactic agent.

NovaRx has assembled a Scientific Advisory Board to assist with issues that may arise during Phase III testing of Lucanix®. Dr. Alexander Eggermont, president of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), chairs the scientific board. Other board members include Dr. Andrew Conrad, chief scientific officer (CSO) to the National Genetics Institute, global director of esoteric clinical trials service for Labcorp, and CSO for both Castle & Cooke and the Dole Food Company; and Dr. John Gutheil, chief medical officer of Proacta, former vice president of medical affairs for Favrille Inc., and the former executive director of clinical research and development at Vical, Inc.

NovaRx’s mission is to manage or cure cancer without the negative side effects typically associated with standard cancer treatment, greatly enhancing quality of life for patients. The company plans to fulfill this mission by developing whole cell-based therapeutic vaccines for cancer that significantly improve patient outcomes by either curing disease or effectively stabilizing it without adversely affecting quality of life.

The company’s goals are to ensure that developed therapies such as Lucanix® are approved as quickly as possible with quality data and exemplary clinical management. Senior management has an unwavering commitment to establish NovaRx as the next biotechnology powerhouse by conducting additional research to develop vaccines for other cancers. When NovaRx realizes this mission, the company may be able to positively influence, or even change, the current paradigm for cancer management.