Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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May 17, 2002

"St. Luke's Participates in Trial of Cancer Drug"

Allentown Morning Call (www.mcall.com) (05/16/02) P. A1; Wlazelek, Ann

CancerVax's cancer vaccine Canvaxin, currently undergoing clinical trials at St. Luke's Hospital in Allentown, Pa., contains melanoma cells that cannot grow.  When injected under the skin, they enable the body to produce cancer-fighting cells. Compared to traditional melanoma treatment Interferon, Canvaxin was shown in previous studies to have fewer side effects and increased life expectancy by two years and six months, which is one year and six months longer than Interferon increased life expectancy.  Participants in the St. Luke's study have advanced cases of melanoma, have undergone surgery to remove tumors, and are otherwise healthy.  The 900 enrolled participants in the study will continue receiving either Canvaxin or a placebo, but no new participants will be enrolled due to manufacturing problems at CancerVax's facilities.  Melanoma is diagnosed in about 51,400 people each year in the United States, and about 7,800 people die due to the disease each year.

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