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www.fdanews.com/articles/81700-positive-trial-results-reported-for-cancer-vaccine

POSITIVE TRIAL RESULTS REPORTED FOR CANCER VACCINE

October 17, 2005

Biotechnology firm Antigenics is preparing to launch a pivotal trial for its cancer vaccine Oncophage -- a move that comes in the wake of preliminary data from a late-stage clinical trial that showed the drug extended the survival of advanced skin cancer patients.

Antigenic's decision to move forward with the pivotal trial stems from early results from a Phase III study that showed Stage IV skin cancer patients treated with Oncophage lived an average of 20.9 months compared to an average 12.8 months for patients given standard treatment. The average survival rate for patients with Stage IV skin cancer is approximately seven months. In light of the results, Antigenics plans to begin a pivotal Phase III trial for Oncophage within "several months," CEO Garo Armen said. The trial will focus on patients with Stage IV M1a advanced melanoma.

Oncophage could represent a breakthrough in cancer treatment, as it is personalized vaccine made from patients' tumors. The vaccine is designed to capture the particular cancer's "fingerprint," which contains unique antigens that are present only in that particular patient's specific cancer cells. Injection of the vaccine is intended to stimulate the patient's immune system to recognize and attack cells bearing the specific cancer fingerprint.