
NewLink's Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Fails to Improve Survival in Phase 3
Algenpantucel-L, an allogenic whole-cell immunotherapeutic vaccine being developed to destroy a patient’s pancreatic cancer cells, has failed to improve overall survival (OS).
Algenpantucel-L, an allogenic whole-cell immunotherapeutic vaccine being developed to destroy a patient’s pancreatic cancer cells, has failed to improve overall survival (OS).
In a
“We are deeply disappointed for patients that the IMPRESS Phase 3 study was not successful,” said Nicholas N. Vahanian, MD, president and CMO of NewLink Genetics in the press release. “We want to extend our sincere appreciation to all the patients, caregivers, investigators, research nurses, employees and others who contributed to the study.”
One of the investigators on the study, George Fisher, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine at Stanford University, was optimistic despite the results. “The median overall survival of 29.3 months in this study represents a significant increase compared with prior trials and may be due to multiple factors, including the emergence of more effective treatment regimens for recurrent or metastatic disease. Although a negative study, these results represent an important and meaningful contribution to the understanding of the modern treatment of resected pancreatic cancer,” Fisher said.
According to TheStreet, if an interim analysis by an independent data monitoring committee had been conducted last May, it could have hinted to failure of the vaccine and could have allowed for
Company CEO Charles Link has hinted at the vaccine being shelved following these disappointing results.
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