Orchestra Therapeutics (fka OCHTQ)

[surf1944]

IMRP is now OCHT, trying to hide under a new symbol & name:

Orchestra Therapeutics Announces New Trading Symbol
Monday April 16, 4:00 am ET

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: OCHT, formerly IMRP), an immuno- pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for autoimmune diseases, announced today that effective April 16 the Company's new trading symbol will be OCHT. Also effective on April 16, 2007, the Company's publicly traded "Class B" warrants will trade under the symbol OCHTZ.

"This marks an exciting moment in the Company's history as Orchestra Therapeutics transforms itself into an innovative and dynamic company grounded in the autoimmune platform," said Dr. Joseph O'Neill, President and CEO of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.

About Orchestra Therapeutics

Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc., formerly The Immune Response Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: OCHT, formerly IMRP), is an immuno-pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for autoimmune diseases. The Company's lead immune-based therapeutic product candidate is NeuroVax(TM) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition to MS, the Company has proprietary technology and prior clinical experience for clinical evaluation of TCR peptide-based immune-based therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis. The targeted strategy behind the Company's autoimmune therapies is reflected in the name Orchestra. Rather than disrupting the function of the entire immune system, these therapeutic vaccines are designed to elicit a very specific response -- akin to correcting one instrument in an orchestra that is out of tune -- to help control disease.

Autoimmune processes are implicated in more than 60 conditions, including MS, RA, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, lupus and type-1 diabetes. Orchestra Therapeutics' unique approach to controlling autoimmune diseases uses small peptide vaccines that appear to stimulate FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells; a component of the immune system that is now recognized as being key in autoimmune pathogenesis.

In MS, for example, a specific subset of a patient's own white blood cells, pathogenic T-cells, attack myelin, a fatty tissue in the central nervous system, which surrounds and protects nerve fibers. This pathologic process creates multiple areas of inflammation that ultimately lead to scarring (sclerosis) and that interfere with normal transmission of nerve impulses. This nerve damage, in turn, leads to a variety of chronic and often debilitating neurological symptoms, ranging from serious movement and balance problems to vision impairment.

NeuroVax(TM), an investigational T-Cell Receptor peptide vaccine for the treatment of relapsing-remitting forms of MS, appears to work by enhancing levels of FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells within the immune system, which may help control levels of pathogenic T-cells in MS patients. Data from the Company's most recent Phase II clinical trial in MS showed that reduced levels of FOXP3 can be restored to normal levels after repeated vaccinations with NeuroVax(TM). The Company recently announced the injection of the first patient in a large multi-center Phase II study to assess the safety and efficacy of NeuroVax(TM).

Recognizing that a growing base of scientific research has demonstrated the potential significance of the role of FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells in the prevention and treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases, the Company has made the strategic decision to emphasize this program and redirected its resources toward the execution and expansion of product development in this area.

The Company is in discussions with several academic institutions to conduct pre-clinical work on therapeutic vaccines to treat psoriasis and RA. Based on findings to be derived from these product development programs, the Company plans to initiate Phase I trials in one of these new autoimmune areas in 2008. The Company also has two HIV product candidates, Remune® and IR103. The 52-week data from the first large cohort of HIV clinical trial participants from a now-terminated Phase II clinical trial have already been gathered, and analysis of the data will be completed and disclosed in the second quarter of 2007. Based on this data, the Company will consider strategic alternatives for the HIV program.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often signaled by forms of words such as should, could, will, might, plan, projection, forecast, expect, guidance, potential and developing. Actual results could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors, including whether the Company will continue as a going concern and successfully raise proceeds from financing activities sufficient to fund operations and clinical trials of NeuroVax(TM), Remune® or IR103, the uncertainty of successful completion of any such clinical trials, the fact that the Company has not succeeded in commercializing any drug, the risk that NeuroVax(TM), Remune® or IR103 might not prove to be effective as either a therapeutic vaccine, whether future trials will be conducted and whether the results of such trials will coincide with the results of NeuroVax(TM), Remune® or IR103 in preclinical trials and/or earlier clinical trials and the unresolved status of the Company's HIV program. A more extensive set of risks is set forth in Orchestra Therapeutic's SEC filings including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and its subsequent Quarterly Reports to be filed on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the results of these forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after today or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

NeuroVax(TM) is a trademark of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc. Remune® is a registered trademark of Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT: INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Rachel Kessler Robert Giordano
Chamberlain Communications Group Inc. ROI Associates
[phone] [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail]

Gene Marbach
COMPANY CONTACT: Makovsky & Company
Michael K. Green, COO [phone]
Orchestra Therapeutics, Inc. [e-mail]
[phone]