Preliminary Results on MDNA55 and MDNA109 to be Presented at the Immuno-Oncology 360° Conference

TORONTO and HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA; OTCQB: MDNAF), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, today announced two presentations at the Immuno-Oncology 360° Conference to be held February 6-8, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Times Square, New York NY.

The details of the presentations are as follows:

The presentation will introduce the Interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R) as an ideal but under-exploited target for the development of cancer therapeutics as it is frequently and intensely expressed on a variety of human carcinomas and is associated with aggressive disease and poor survival outcomes. This talk will focus on MDNA55, a novel IL-4 targeted fusion toxin, administered intratumorally via MRI-guided convection enhanced delivery as a single treatment for recurrent Glioblastoma. The role of IL4R expression on survival outcomes and therapeutic benefit from MDNA55 treatment will be presented.

The presentation will cover the following:

• A major limitation of interleukin-2 therapy approved for use in treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma is its severe toxicity mediated by the IL-2 accessory receptor CD25
• MDNA109 is an engineered IL-2 superkine exhibiting 1000-fold enhanced affinity toward the CD122 receptor and best in class potency toward effector T cells
• Rationally engineered MDNA109 muteins with extended half-life and impaired CD25 binding activity bypass the off-target toxicity and unwanted stimulation of Treg by IL-2 and demonstrate impressive in vivo efficacy when combined with checkpoint inhibitors

About Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.

Medicenna is a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology and the development and commercialization of novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first in class Empowered Cytokines™ (ECs) for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Medicenna's wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna Biopharma Inc., 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. Supported by a significant non-dilutive grant from CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas), Medicenna's lead IL4-EC, MDNA55, is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b clinical trial for rGBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer, at top-ranked brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has completed three clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA respectively. For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.

About the Immuno-Oncology 360° Summit:

Created by the Conference Forum, in collaboration with the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the Immuno-Oncology (IO) 360° Conference is the industry's leading scientific meeting which drives the science of immuno-oncology and links the rapid advancements of clinical, scientific and business developments of IO in one setting to help develop therapeutics for a wider range of cancers at an accelerated rate.  The meeting will take place in NYC, USA and provide 10 plenary sessions over the course of 3 days addressing Translational Science, Biomarkers, Clinical Data Developments, Clinical Operations and Imaging Aspects in advanced therapies. To find out more about the Summit click here.

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 with respect to the future plans and objectives of the Company, 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 Preliminary Prospectus, the annual information form of the Company dated June 26, 2018 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.

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