Medicenna Solidifies Superkine Platform with Additional US Patent Issuance

TORONTO and HOUSTON, TX, Oct. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA; OTCQX: MDNAF), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, developing first-in-class proprietary cytokines, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued another patent related to the Company's Superkine platform. U.S. Patent 9,738,696 ("Superkines and synthekines: repurposed cytokines with new and enhanced signaling activities") issued to the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University and licensed exclusively to Medicenna, covers the composition of engineered interleukin-4 ("IL-4") Superkines.

"The issuance of the IL-4 patent, along with issued patents covering our IL-2 and IL-13 Superkines, solidifies our leadership position in developing a series of unique and versatile interleukins that represent key pillars of our next generation platform of immunotherapies," said Dr. Fahar Merchant, Chairman, President and CEO of Medicenna Therapeutics. "We remain focused on maximizing the value of our leading-edge Superkine platform through advancing these novel super-agonists and super-antagonists into clinical development on our own and with potential partners."

Medicenna continues to protect its Superkine and Empowered Cytokine platforms which comprises of over 40 filed or issued patents in key territories including the US, Canada, EU and Asia.

Superkines have exceptionally high selectivity and affinity for receptor sub-types, resulting in superior safety and efficacy. Proof of concept results published in leading scientific journals have demonstrated the significant potential of these Superkine agonists and antagonists to address unmet needs in oncology, inflammatory and other immune mediated diseases.

About Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
Medicenna is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing novel highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkinestm and first in class Empowered Cytokinestm (ECs).  Its wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna BioPharma, is specifically targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting more than one million new cancer patients every year. Medicenna's lead IL4-EC, MDNA55 is enrolling patients in a CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) funded Phase 2b clinical trial for recurrent glioblastoma ("rGBM") at leading brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has completed 3 clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from USFDA. Unlike most other cancer therapies, Medicenna's IL4-ECs have the potential to purge both the tumor and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, offering a unique treatment paradigm for a large majority of cancer patients.

For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements related to our leadership position in developing a series of unique and versatile interleukins, that we will maximize the value of the Superkine platform, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company and others are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the annual information form of the Company dated June 15, 2017 and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.