Aethlon Medical Signs Collaboration Agreement with 34 Lives to Evaluate the Ability of the Hemopurifier® to Expand the Utility of Unused, Donated Kidneys for Transplant

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Aethlon Medical has signed a Collaboration Agreement with 34 Lives to investigate the use of Aethlon's Hemopurifier technology and 34 Lives' organ evaluation and preservation system to increase the supply of usable donated kidneys for human transplant. The aim is to gather data to support the use of the technology in the ex vivo organ preservation system and confirm its ability to remove harmful viruses and exosomes. The global transplantation market is projected to reach $33.7 billion by 2032. In 2022, approximately 115,000 patients in the U.S. were awaiting organ transplants, with 96,000 waiting for a kidney.

Proof-of-Concept Studies to Support the Use of the Hemopurifier in the Ex Vivo Organ Perfusion Circuit

SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, today announced that it has signed a Collaboration Agreement with 34 Lives, PBC, to investigate the use of Aethlon's proprietary Hemopurifier^® technology and 34 Lives' organ evaluation and preservation system, with the goal of increasing the supply of useable donated kidneys for human transplant. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The signing of the research collaboration with 34 Lives, on the heels of our recent announcement of our interest in the organ transplant market, is a testament to Aethlon's belief that the Hemopurifier technology can potentially help expand the pool for donated kidneys available for transplant," stated Charles J. Fisher, Jr., M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Aethlon Medical. "The aim of the proof-of-concept studies, to be conducted under this Agreement, is to gather compelling data to support the use of our technology in the ex vivo organ preservation system and to confirm its ability to remove harmful viruses and exosomes with injurious cargo from recovered donor organs. Aethlon has previously demonstrated the removal of multiple viruses and exosomes in vitro, utilizing a miniature version of the Hemopurifier. This process may reduce complications following transplantation of the recovered organ, including viral infection, delayed graft function and rejection by the transplant recipient. We look forward to working with 34 Lives with the goal of preserving the viability of kidneys, with the ultimate goal of saving lives." Chris Jaynes, Chief Executive Officer of 34 Lives added, "The combination of the Aethlon Hemopurifier with the 34 Lives' organ preservation system may also help rescue a large percentage of the donor kidneys annually recovered for transplantation that go unused, putting them back into the donor pool with the hope of eliminating the patient waitlist for these organs."

According to Precedence Research, the global transplantation market size is projected to hit around $33.7 billion by 2032, up from an estimated $15.1 billion in 2022, driven largely by increasing rates of organ failure and demand for novel tissue transplantation products. Additionally, according to 34 Lives, in 2022, approximately 115,000 patients in the U.S. were awaiting organ transplants. Of these, 96,000 were waiting for a kidney, facing an average wait time of six years, while more than 7,800 kidneys which were recovered for transplant, were left unused.

About 34 Lives, PBC

34 Lives is a Public Benefit Corporation, which is a company that prioritizes societal benefits over profits. 34 Lives is committed to saving and dramatically improving the lives of more than 120,000 individuals waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, 84% of whom are waiting for kidneys. 34 Lives' innovative processes and services are intended to extend the safe preservation times to the thousands of unused kidneys each year, saving lives that would otherwise be lost on the waitlist.

About Aethlon and the Hemopurifier^®

Aethlon Medical is a medical therapeutic company focused on developing the Hemopurifier, a clinical stage immunotherapeutic device which is designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections. In human studies, the Hemopurifier has demonstrated the removal of life-threatening viruses and harmful exosomes from blood utilizing its proprietary lectin-based technology. This action has potential applications in cancer, where exosomes may promote immune suppression and metastasis, and in life-threatening infectious diseases.

The Hemopurifier is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Breakthrough Device indicated for the treatment of individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer who are either unresponsive to or intolerant of standard of care therapy, and with cancer types in which exosomes have been shown to participate in the development or severity of the disease. The Hemopurifier also holds an FDA Breakthrough Device designation and an open Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application related to the treatment of life-threatening viruses that are not addressed with approved therapies.

Additional information can be found at www.AethlonMedical.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," "potentially" or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Aethlon's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Factors that may contribute to such differences include, without limitation, the Company's ability to successfully complete development of the Hemopurifier and to successfully demonstrate the utility of the Hemopurifier in the organ transplant field in collaboration with 34 Lives, the Company's ability to manage its clinical trials, and other potential risks. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2023, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Company Contact:
Jim Frakes
Chief Financial Officer
Aethlon Medical, Inc.
Jfrakes@aethlonmedical.com

Investor Contact:
Susan Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com

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SOURCE Aethlon Medical, Inc.

FAQ

What is the Collaboration Agreement between Aethlon Medical and 34 Lives?

The Collaboration Agreement aims to investigate the use of Aethlon's Hemopurifier technology and 34 Lives' organ evaluation and preservation system to increase the supply of usable donated kidneys for human transplant.

What is the goal of the proof-of-concept studies?

The goal of the proof-of-concept studies is to gather compelling data to support the use of Aethlon's technology in the ex vivo organ preservation system and confirm its ability to remove harmful viruses and exosomes from recovered donor organs.

What is the potential impact of this collaboration?

The collaboration may help rescue a large percentage of the donor kidneys annually recovered for transplantation that go unused, potentially eliminating the patient waitlist for these organs.

What is the projected size of the global transplantation market by 2032?

The global transplantation market is projected to reach around $33.7 billion by 2032.

How many patients in the U.S. were awaiting organ transplants in 2022?

In 2022, approximately 115,000 patients in the U.S. were awaiting organ transplants.

How many patients were waiting for a kidney transplant in 2022?

In 2022, 96,000 patients in the U.S. were waiting for a kidney transplant.