Personalized Anti-Cancer Vaccine Pivotal Phase III Results to be Presented at ASCO Plenary Session

TAMPA, Fla., May 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
BVTIE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC: BVTI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating), a majority-owned
subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Other OTC: ABPIQ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating), today
announced that BiovaxID(R), Biovest's personalized anti-cancer vaccine
targeting B-cell blood cancers, will be featured in an oral presentation
during the Plenary Session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO) Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 in Orlando,
Florida.

Stephen J. Schuster, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, will deliver
the BiovaxID presentation titled, "Idiotype Vaccine Therapy (BiovaxID(R))
in Follicular Lymphoma in First Complete Remission: Phase III Clinical
Trial Results."

Note to editors: Pursuant to ASCO policy, this abstract is embargoed
until 10:30 a.m. (EDT) on Sunday, May 31st, when it will be
highlighted during ASCO's official Press Program to the media.

Dr. Schuster's oral presentation is scheduled to be the second of four
clinical trial results presentations at the ASCO Plenary Session on
Sunday, which begins at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Orlando Convention Center
location Level 2, West Hall D2.

In addition to the Plenary Session, BiovaxID will also be featured in a
presentation to be delivered at ASCO by Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D.,
Chairman of the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma and Associate
Director of the Center for Cancer Immunology Research at the University
of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Kwak's presentation will be
part of a Panel Education Session titled, "Cancer Vaccines: Where do we
go from here?" This presentation is scheduled for Sunday, May 31st
at 4:45 p.m. (EDT) at location Level 2, West Hall F1.

Any parties interested in meeting with the Biovest team at ASCO may
contact Douglas Calder at 813-864-2558 or at dwcalder@biovest.com.

About BiovaxID(R)

BiovaxID is a personalized, patient-specific therapeutic vaccine
designed to stimulate the patient's own immune system to recognize and
destroy cancerous B-cells that may remain in the body or may arise after
the patient has been treated with chemotherapy. Unlike many other
approaches to treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, BiovaxID is designed to
kill only cancerous B-cells, with the initial indication of follicular
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Additionally, it is anticipated that BiovaxID
could be used to treat other types of B-cell cancers, such as Mantle
Cell Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma.

A Unique Approach to Immunotherapy
Targeting B-Cell Blood Cancers

B-cells (a type of white blood cell or lymphocyte) are a vital part of
the human immune system, as they produce antibodies that seek out and
bind to foreign substances in the body. In lymphoma, as cancerous
B-cells grow and multiply unrestrained, each malignant B-cell expresses
a unique idiotype or biomarker on the cell's surface, specific to each
patient. Research at Stanford University and the National Cancer
Institute led to the development of BiovaxID as a personalized,
therapeutic vaccine capable of selectively targeting only cancerous
B-cells, while sparing healthy cells. This is achieved by using the
idiotype obtained from a sample of the patient's tumor by biopsy, and
through proprietary bioengineering techniques in a patented cell line, a
patient-specific vaccine is created that stimulates the immune system by
recruiting a patient's T-cells (immune cells that kill cancerous cells)
to seek out and destroy only the diseased B-cells. Unlike other failed
cancer vaccine therapies that attempted to target lymphoma, BiovaxID is
the only hybridoma (fusion of human lymphocyte with cancer cell)
anti-cancer vaccine that consists of a high-fidelity copy of the
complete idiotype, believed to be critical in mounting a full and
complete immune response against the cancer, as well as "training" the
immune system to maintain continuous response if cancerous cells were to
return.

About Biovest International, Inc.

Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC: BVTI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a pioneer in the
development of advanced individualized immunotherapies for
life-threatening cancers of the blood system. Biovest is a
majority-owned (75%) subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Other OTC: ABPIQ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) with its remaining shares publicly traded. Biovest
has a foundation in the manufacture of biologics for research and
clinical trials. In addition, Biovest develops, manufactures and markets
patented cell culture systems, including the innovative AutovaxID(TM),
which is being marketed as an automated vaccine manufacturing instrument
and for production of cell-based materials and therapeutics. Biovest
recently completed a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for BiovaxID(R), which
is a patient-specific anti-cancer vaccine focusing on the treatment of
follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. BiovaxID has been granted Fast Track
status by the FDA and Orphan Drug status by the EMEA.

For further information, please visit: http://www.biovest.com

Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical in nature
constitute "forward-looking statements." Such
statements include, but are not limited to statements about BiovaxID(R),
AutovaxID(TM), events occurring after dates hereof, and any other
statements relating to products, product candidates, product development
programs, the FDA or clinical study process including the commencement,
process, or completion of clinical trials or the regulatory process. Such
statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to
the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other
statements identified by words such as "may," "could," "would,"
"should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends,"
"plans," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors that may cause the actual results of Biovest to be materially
different from historical results or from any results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors
include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the
progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product
development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory
approval for product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical
or biotechnology companies; and the additional risks discussed in
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement, and Biovest undertakes no obligation to revise or
update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the
date hereof. The product names used in this statement are for
identification purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Biovest International, Inc.

Biovest International, Inc. 
Corporate Contact: 
Douglas Calder, Director of Investor Relations & Public Relations 
813-864-2554, ext.258 
dwcalder@biovest.com

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