NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[skitahoe]

Hank,

I had thought about that, but I wondered why if that was the case the leukapheresis couldn't be done at, or near the time of the surgery. My thinking was that if there was any change in the remaining cancerous mass what they're getting with the leukapheresis could reflect that change. I suppose there could be a problem with preservation of the product of the leukapheresis.

I know that in the case of my stem cells, because I was fighting colds, they cryogenically preserved them rather than rescheduling the donor until I was completely well. I know they had to add a preservative, I believe it was DMSO, and because it's a larger molecule than the stem cells themself, it required a Hickman catheter. If something similar would be required to preserve the product of the leukapheresis, it may not be possible to preserve it, or at least might complicate the process.

With the approval of the EDEN unit, if there is an advantage to early application of the vaccine, I would think they'd do the leukapheresis shortly before, or after the surgery so they can proceed with the vaccine production ASAP after the surgery. I don't know this to be the case.

I also wonder what the priority will be with patients whose tumors were preserved some time ago, but are still deemed to benefit from the vaccine once it's available. The question may be which patient has the greatest possibility of benefit, but there are certainly other possibilities until sufficient capacity exists to do it all immediately.

Gary