Deaths force halt to Cell Genesys cancer vaccine trial

http://tinyurl.com/5hvkgl

Deaths force halt to Cell Genesys cancer vaccine trial
August 27, 2008
By John Carroll

A closely watched trial for Cell Genesys' prostate cancer vaccine GVAX
was brought to a sudden halt after an independent monitoring committee
noted a significantly higher death rate in the group taking a
combination of the vaccine and Taxotere compared to the control arm of
the study. In a statement, Cell Genesys said that 67 patients taking
the combo therapy had died compared to 47 who were taking Taxotere
alone. The company said it doesn't know why the vaccine group would
experience a higher rate of death.

Investors weren't waiting for details. The news quickly wiped out 70
percent of the company's share price, leaving it at 85 cents this
morning and pointed downward. The committee will now examine the death
rate in a separate trial of GVAX called VITAL-1. In January, the
committee gave researchers a green light to continue with that trial.


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In message , JOHN wrote:

http://tinyurl.com/5hvkgl

Deaths force halt to Cell Genesys cancer vaccine trial
August 27, 2008
By John Carroll

A closely watched trial for Cell Genesys' prostate cancer vaccine GVAX
was brought to a sudden halt after an independent monitoring committee
noted a significantly higher death rate in the group taking a
combination of the vaccine and Taxotere compared to the control arm of
the study. In a statement, Cell Genesys said that 67 patients taking
the combo therapy had died compared to 47 who were taking Taxotere
alone. The company said it doesn't know why the vaccine group would
experience a higher rate of death.

Investors weren't waiting for details. The news quickly wiped out 70
percent of the company's share price, leaving it at 85 cents this
morning and pointed downward. The committee will now examine the death
rate in a separate trial of GVAX called VITAL-1. In January, the
committee gave researchers a green light to continue with that trial.

How does this square with the "watchdogs controlled by Big Pharma"
theory?

--
| The brighter the stupid burns, the more |
| chance that someone will see the light. |
+- D. C. Sessions -+