Cell Genesys Positive Prostate Cancer Study Data (CEGE, DNDN)
Cell Genesys, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEGE) has announced that the final data from the second of two Phase II clinical trials (G-0010) of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer has been published in the online issue of Cancer. This is the publication of the American Cancer Society.
As a reminder, this company is somewhat after the same goal as Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN) in the fight to treat prostate cancer.
The results from this Cell Genesys multi-center trial showed an overall median survival of 35.0 months in the subset of patients who received a dose of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer comparable to that currently being evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 program. It also noted that these results were consistent with those observed in the first multi-center Phase II trial which indicated an overall median survival of 34.9 months in those patients who received a dose comparable to that being evaluated in the Phase III program.
The survival results from both Phase II clinical trials compare favorably to the previously published median survival for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients treated with Taxotere® chemotherapy plus prednisone, the current standard of care for this patient population.
A copy of this article titled “Phase 1/2 Dose-Escalation Study of a GM-CSF-Secreting, Allogeneic Cellular Immunotherapy for Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer” can be seen at the following URL:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120840830/abstract
As a result, the company notes that it is on track to complete enrollment of the second of the two ongoing Phase III trials, in the first half of 2009 and its expects to reach the number of events needed to trigger final analysis of the first of the two Phase III trials in the second half of 2009.
Much of this data seems to be reaffirming what has already been observed. But this stock has a huge short interest of more than 18.4 million shares and this has shares indicated about 5% higher in the immediate pre-market reaction.
Jon Ogg
July 22, 2008