BruCells increases capital by 2 Million Euros to pursue the development of therapeutic vaccine against brain and kidney cancers

Brussels , Belgium, March 20, 2008

BruCells SA/NV, the Belgium based therapeutic vaccine cancer company, announces that its capital has been increased from 2.362.580 Euros to 4.362.580 Euros by issuing new shares to Biotec SA and to existing shareholders BI3 and Brustart. The proceeds will be used to fund the pharmaceutical and preclinical development of dendritic/tumour cell fusion vaccines against lethal forms of brain cancer and kidney cancer.

The principle of therapeutic vaccines is to trigger the immune system of cancer patients to recognize and destroy cancer cells by presenting tumour specific antigens. The products developed by BruCells combine the ability of dendritic cells to present antigens, with tumour cells as the sources of antigens. This is achieved by cellular fusion between dendritic and cancer cells, resulting in hybrids cells that are particularly potent in causing anti-cancer responses.

The dendritic cells and the cancer cells used in the production of BruCells therapeutic fusion vaccines are both obtained from sustainable cell lines and do not require the collection of biological material from the patients. This unique feature allows the production of vaccine dosage forms in advance and under reproducible pharmaceutical conditions. The response of the immune system to such fusion vaccines will be addressed through clinical trials.

Fusion vaccines can be developed in principle against most cancer types by properly selecting the cancer cell lines representative of the disease. The first two products, coded BCL-003 and BCL-004 are directed at Glioma (a form of brain cancer) and Renal Cell Carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), respectively. These are two particularly malignant forms of cancer for which more effective treatments are urgently needed.

Preclinical tests and scaling up of the production of clinical grade vaccines are under way with the collaboration of international partners. The Company expects to initiate the first clinical trials in 2009.

Gilles Capart, Managing Director of BruCells, commented: “The feasibility of fusion vaccines still raises a number of scientific and technical questions. If we succeed, the potential is very important, both for the company and for the patients. I am grateful for the confidence and support of the investors”.

About BruCells: BruCells SA is a Belgian company specializing in the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines using dendritic cells. During the first years of operation after incorporation in 2002 , the company has benefited from technology transfer and collaboration with Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) and has been supported by development grants from the Region of Brussels and from the European Commission. http://www.brucells.com

About Biotec SA: company investing in R&D and participations in biological companies active in the fields of ecology, chemical communication and natural products. Incorporated in 1975.

About BI3: the Brussels Innovation, Imagination and Incubation fund is a seed capital fund managed by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) with the support of several major institutional investors. BI3 invests in start-up companies based in part on knowledge developed by the researchers of VUB. http://www.vub.ac.be/infovoor/onderzoekers/downloads/VUBspinoffENG.pdf

About Brustart: Brustart is a seed capital fund of SRIB/GIMB, the regional investment company of the Region of Brussels, intended to support the development of young innovative companies in the region of Brussels. http://www.srib.be/index.php?option=com_filiale&idFiliale=2&Itemid=1&lang=fr