Antigenics presents positive data from Phase I brain tumor study

Final results from the study, conducted at the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, showed that Oncophage vaccination following brain cancer surgery increased overall median survival to approximately 10.5 months with four patients surviving beyond 12 months and one patient surviving almost 2.5 years. This is compared to a historical median survival of only 6.5 months post surgery. All patients enrolled into the trial had at least one recurrence of brain cancer.

In addition to survival data, the study also observed a correlation between immune response and overall survival as a result of Oncophage vaccination (n=12; P < .001). These responses were validated by using three separate immune techniques and showed that Oncophage evoked a tumor-specific immune response by producing activated T-cells and natural killer cells that can destroy tumor cells. Andrew Parsa, associate professor in the department of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, said: "This study demonstrated significant tumor-specific immune responses leading to a proliferation of T-cells which did not exist in these patients before vaccination with Oncophage. We look forward to completing the Phase II portion of this study and presenting results in 2009."