Next Generation Technology Already In DCVax®-Direct;
Will Be Applicable To All DCVax® Products

BETHESDA, Md., March 18, 2013 — Northwest
Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: NWBO) (NW Bio), a biotechnology company
developing DCVax® personalized immune therapies for solid tumor
cancers, announced today that it has been issued a key U.S. patent
(#8389278) covering novel processes for manufacturing human
dendritic cells.  The cells produced through these processes
are much more potent in their capacity to activate the immune
system than those produced by the standard methods used throughout
academia and industry today to produce dendritic cells.

This patent has also been issued in Europe, Japan, Australia,
New Zealand, India, China, Korea, Singapore, Russia and other
countries.

The standard methods used to produce dendritic cells today
involve several key steps, which start with precursors of dendritic
cells (called “monocytes”) obtained through a blood draw, then
develop the precursors into immature dendritic cells, and finally
develop these cells into mature and activated dendritic
cells.  The standard methods cause some premature activation
of the precursors before they become immature dendritic cells, and
this premature activation orients the cells toward becoming an
undesired cell type rather than dendritic cells.  This has to
be stopped and overcome by treating the cells with a biochemical
factor known as IL-4.  This redirection results in conflicting
signals, and dendritic cells that are somewhat “confused.”

In contrast, the patented NW Bio processes closely track the
natural processes that occur in a healthy person’s immune
system.  NW Bio’s methods avoid the premature activation of
the precursors (monocytes), and develop pure immature dendritic
cells — avoiding the conflicting and confusing signals, and the
need to override those signals with IL-4. 

Building upon the pure immature dendritic cells, NW Bio’s
patented methods develop mature and activated dendritic cells that
are far more potent than dendritic cells produced in the standard
way.  For example, NW Bio’s dendritic cells produce as much as
10X or more the amount of signaling compounds which are key to
mobilizing other active agents of the immune system, such as T
cells (which infiltrate and attack tumors) and B cells (which
produce antibodies).

NW Bio is already using these next generation methods for
producing more potent dendritic cells in its production of
DCVax-Direct.  The same patented methods for activating
dendritic cells were also used in the pre-clinical animal studies
with DCVax-Direct.  In those studies, injection of these
potent dendritic cells into some of the tumors in each of the
animals resulted in complete clearance of all tumors (both the
tumors injected with DCVax-Direct and the tumors not injected) in
80-100% of the animals in the various studies, indicating a
system-wide immune response. 

Going forward, NW Bio’s now patented methods of producing more
potent dendritic cells will also enable development of the next
generation of NW Bio’s other two product lines:  DCVax-L and
DCVax-Prostate.  The current DCVax-L and DCVax-Prostate
products have already delivered striking results in clinical trials
to date, extending the time to tumor recurrence and the patients’
survival time by 1-1/2 to 2 years or more, with a substantial
portion of patients going far beyond that.  Incorporating NW
Bio’s patented methods for more potent dendritic cells will enable
production of enhanced versions of these DCVax-L and DCVax-Prostate
products.

“We are pleased to add this important U.S. patent to our large
portfolio of intellectual property, with 17 patent families
comprising over 180 issued and pending patents worldwide,”
commented Linda F. Powers, CEO of NW Bio.  “Our strong IP
position complements and protects our leading operational position
in the immune therapy space, with two product lines already at the
Phase III stage, and a third product line at the Phase I/II trial
stage, and with operations and manufacturing established in both
the U.S. and Europe.”

Dr. Marnix Bosch, Chief Technical Officer of NW Bio, commented:
“Our patented manufacturing process is an important advancement and
quite different from the methods now being used by parties around
the world.  The significant increase it produces in dendritic
cell potency helps place NW Bio at the cutting edge of next
generation immune therapies.”

About Northwest Biotherapeutics

Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on
developing immunotherapy products to treat cancers more effectively
than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated
with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis, in both the
U.S. and Europe.  The Company has a broad platform technology
for DCVax dendritic cell-based vaccines.  The Company’s lead
program is a 312-patient Phase III trial in newly diagnosed
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and
lethal brain cancer.  The Company also previously received
clearance from the FDA for a 612-patient Phase III trial in
prostate cancer, and clearance from the FDA for Phase I/II trials
in multiple other cancers.  The Company has also conducted a
Phase I/II trial with DCVax for metastatic ovarian cancer together
with the University of Pennsylvania. 

Disclaimer

Statements made in this news release that are not historical
facts, including statements concerning future treatment of patients
using DCVax and future clinical trials, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as “expect,” “believe,”
“intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statement.  Specifically,
there are a number of important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as the
Company’s ability to raise additional capital, risks related to the
Company’s ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and
complete the trials on a timely basis, the uncertainty of the
clinical trials process, uncertainties about the timely performance
of third parties, and whether the Company’s products will
demonstrate safety and efficacy.  Additional information on
these and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect
the Company’s results, is included in its Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) filings.  Finally, there may be other
factors not mentioned above or included in the Company’s SEC
filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected in any forward-looking statement.  You should
not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. 
The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information, future events or
developments, except as required by securities laws.