Opexa to Hold Preliminary Investigator’s Meeting for MS Trial at American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting

THE WOODLANDS, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXA), a biotechnology company developing Tovaxin®, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), announced today that the Company will be holding a preliminary meeting with prospective clinical trial investigators at the 64^th Annual American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Meeting in New Orleans on April 24, 2012. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the upcoming Phase IIb clinical trial using Opexa’s T-cell therapy in patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS).

“We are honored to introduce our next clinical trial to a group of invited neurologists at this year’s AAN meeting in New Orleans,” commented Neil K. Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Opexa. “The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss with select clinicians and their study coordinators potential participation in the SPMS clinical trial as well as present the final protocol for the trial including the design, structure and patient selection criteria. This is an exciting time for Opexa, neurologists and SPMS patients as this study will provide an innovative opportunity for treatment in an area where currently there are very few treatment options. The annual AAN meeting is an excellent forum for the MS community to discuss and present new therapies that could have an important impact on the treatment of MS. We are pleased that Tovaxin is generating a great deal of enthusiasm among physicians, key opinion leaders and patients in the lead up to this meeting and are equally pleased to be advancing our clinical plans for Tovaxin.”

Mark Freedman, M.D., director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit at the Ottawa Hospital and member of Opexa’s Scientific Advisory Board, commented, “I am pleased to contribute my expertise to Opexa with their design and planning of this Phase IIb study. Opexa is now in the process of selecting clinical trial investigators and finalizing the remaining steps in order to conduct a study of optimal quality. I am pleased to facilitate the introduction of the Phase IIb study to prospective clinical trial investigators at this year’s AAN meeting. Patients with SPMS have few treatment options and Tovaxin’s safety profile certainly justifies investigation of this therapy in the challenging SPMS patient population.”

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