Cryoport Supports Opexa Therapeutics' Lead Personalized T-Cell Immunotherapy Programs

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Aug 26, 2015, 08:30 ET

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryoport, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYRX) ("Company"), the leading provider of advanced cryogenic logistics solutions for the life sciences industry, today announced that its validated cryogenic logistics solution will support future clinical trials for Opexa Therapeutics' ("Opexa") lead personalized T-cell immunotherapy programs for Multiple Sclerosis ("MS") and Neuromyelitis Optica ("NMO").

Opexa's novel immunotherapy drug platform has the potential to improve the lives of people around the world suffering from autoimmune disorders. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, it is estimated that more than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide. There are also an estimated 4,000 people with NMO in the United States and a half a million people worldwide with the disease according to The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation.

Cryoport's global distribution network will provide the necessary cryogenic logistics support between Opexa and its clinical sites.

Neil Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Opexa, commented, "We are pleased to be entering into this partnership with Cryoport and their best-in-class logistics solutions to ensure efficient and safe delivery of our T-cell products to clinical trial sites, and ultimately, to the patients. Cryoport, as with all our partners, plays an important role in the conduct and management of our clinical programs."

Jerrell Shelton, Chief Executive Officer of Cryoport, stated, "We are honored to support Opexa in their efforts to develop cutting edge immunotherapy treatments for the significant, unmet need of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica. Working with Opexa to help advance their clinical programs is indeed exciting. We look forward to providing them with our superior service and offerings to help them move closer to managing these debilitating diseases."

About Opexa Therapeutics, Inc.

Opexa is a biopharmaceutical company developing a personalized immunotherapy with the potential to treat major illnesses, including multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as other autoimmune diseases such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO). These therapies are based on Opexa's proprietary T-cell technology. The Company's leading therapy candidate, Tcelna®, is a personalized T-cell immunotherapy that is in a Phase IIb clinical development program (the Abili-T trial) for the treatment of secondary progressive MS. Tcelna consists of myelin-reactive T-cells, which are expanded ex vivo from the patient's peripheral blood and reintroduced into the patient in an attenuated form via subcutaneous injections. This process triggers a potent immune response against specific subsets of autoreactive T-cells known to attack myelin for each individual patient.

For more information visit the Opexa Therapeutics website at www.opexatherapeutics.com.

About Cryoport, Inc.

Cryoport is the premier provider of cryogenic logistics solutions to the life sciences industry through its purpose-built proprietary packaging, information technology and specialized cold chain logistics expertise. We provide leading edge logistics solutions for biologic materials such as immunotherapies, stem cells, CAR-T cells, and reproductive cells for clients worldwide with over 40 clinical trials currently being supported by Cryoport, the majority in the regenerative therapy. In addition, Cryoport actively supports the rest of the industry including points-of-care, CRO's, central laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers, and university researchers. Our packaging is built around our proprietary Cryoport Express® liquid nitrogen dry vapor shippers, which are validated to maintain a constant -150°C temperature for a 10 day dynamic shipment duration. Our information technology centers around our Cryoportal™ Logistics Management Platform, which facilitates management of the entire shipment process. Cryoport is the preferred cryogenic logistics solutions partner to the world's largest shipping companies controlling more than 85% of the world's air shipments. For more information, visit www.cryoport.com.

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Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Cryoport, Inc.'s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is important to note that the company's actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the products markets, variations in the company's cash flow, market acceptance risks, and technical development risks. The company's business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015. The company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Cryoport, Inc. disclaims any obligation, and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

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