Multiple Antigen Targeting Could Indicate Big Potential For Immunotherapy Drugs

Rich Steffens submits: On June 5th, RXI (RXII) Pharmaceuticals will be presenting 36 month data for their E75 HER2/neu peptide vaccine, also known as NeuVax. The updated Phase II study results in adjuvant breast cancer will be announced during a panel RXI is hosting, titled "Emerging Insights into Breast Cancer and Immunotherapy", timed in conjunction with the 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting.

WASHINGTON – More than a decade after first gaining approval as a breast cancer treatment – and the first-ever drug approved with a companion diagnostic – Genentech Inc.'s targeted therapy Herceptin (trastuzumab) plus chemotherapy won the FDA's OK Wednesday night to treat HER2-positive metastatic stomach cancer in adults who have not received prior treatment for their metastatic disease.

Pharmalot submits: The results of an eagerly anticipated clinical trial are leaking out and early indications are that the Avastin cancer med is about as effective as Lucentis in treating a form of age-related macular degeneration, The New York Times writes.

Derek Lowe submits: The Genentech/Roche (RHHBY.PK) drug Avastin has been in the news a lot lately, mostly about cost/benefit analysis for

Derek Lowe submits: As if one were needed, here's an example of how rough the state of current oncology therapy is today.

The Burrill Report submits: Shares of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Curis (CRIS) fell nearly 50 percent on news that its experimental drug in combination with Avastin and chemotherapy failed in a mid-stage trial in metastatic colorectal cancer.

ByBio Matt:Roche (RHHBY.OB) and ImmunoGen's (IMGN) Kadcyla was approved by the FDA on Friday for use in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, increased quantities of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are present on the surface of the tumor cells.

By Peter Geschek:Before Dendreon's (DNDN) Provenge and Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMY) Yervoy was approved in 2011, advocates of cancer-fighting immune strategies faced years of skepticism and disappointment.