Exhibit 99.1
Data from Investigator-Sponsored Trial of Oncophage(R) Cancer Vaccine
in Glioma Presented at AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on
Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
11 of 12 Patients Receiving Oncophage Exceeded Historical Median
Survival of 6.5 Months
Cancer-Specific Immune Response Demonstrated in All Treated
Patients
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2007--Antigenics Inc.
(NASDAQ: AGEN) today announced that follow-up data from a Phase 1/2
investigator-sponsored trial of the company's investigational cancer
vaccine Oncophage(R) (vitespen) in recurrent, high-grade glioma showed
that 11 out of 12 patients exceeded the historical median benchmark of
6.5 months survival from time of recurrence. The results from the
investigator-initiated National Institutes of Health-sponsored study,
being conducted at the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University
of California, San Francisco (UCSF), were presented at the
International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics,
jointly sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research,
National Cancer Institute and European Organization for Research and
Treatment of Cancer (AACR-NCI-EROTC; abstract # 963).
The study also showed that all 12 treated patients demonstrated a
significant immune response after vaccination with Oncophage (P less
than .001). Furthermore, patients with minimal residual disease at
time of first vaccination (n = 7) were more likely to survive beyond
nine months compared with patients with significant residual disease.
"Our experience of treating recurrent glioma patients with
Oncophage suggests that an adaptive and innate immune response can be
evoked effectively in almost all patients," said Andrew T. Parsa, MD,
PhD, associate professor in the department of neurological surgery at
the University of California, San Francisco. "We are highly encouraged
by the prolonged improvement in overall survival compared with
historical controls as well as identifying the optimal patient
population likely to benefit from Oncophage in this disease setting.
We believe the data support the growing consensus that therapeutic
cancer vaccines are more likely to exert benefit in patients with
minimal residual disease. I'm convinced that Oncophage will be part of
conventional cancer treatment in the future."
Derived from each individual's tumor, Oncophage is designed to
program the body's immune system to target cancer cells of that
patient. Oncophage has been associated with a good safety profile and
has been granted fast track and orphan drug designations from the US
Food and Drug Administration in both metastatic melanoma and renal
cell carcinoma. Antigenics recently filed an application for marketing
authorization with the Russian Ministry of Public Health for Oncophage
as an adjuvant treatment for patients with intermediate-risk kidney
cancer.
Study Findings
The investigator-sponsored Phase 1 portion of this Phase 1/2 study
was designed to establish the feasibility, safety and activity of
Oncophage vaccination in patients with recurrent, high-grade glioma.
The trial involved two cohorts of six patients, both receiving a
minimum of four Oncophage injections: the first cohort received
biweekly vaccinations; the second cohort received weekly vaccinations.
Using three different techniques, patients were monitored for immune
response before and after Oncophage treatment.
According to investigators, no adverse events or toxicity
identified were considered attributable to the vaccine. A
tumor-specific immune response was detected in all 12 patients.
Researchers plan to submit the findings for peer-review publication by
year-end. Based on these results, the Phase 2 portion of this study
was launched in early October 2007.
About Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Glioma is a cancer affecting the central nervous system that
begins in glial cells (connective tissue cells that surround and
support nerve cells). Malignant glioma is currently a fatal disease.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 20,500 malignant tumors of
the brain or spinal cord will be diagnosed during 2007 in the United
States, and that about 12,740 people will die from these tumors. Brain
and spinal cord tumors account for about 1 percent of all cancers and
2 percent of all cancer-related deaths.
About UCSF
UCSF is a leading university that consistently defines health care
worldwide by conducting advanced biomedical research, educating
graduate students in the life sciences, and providing complex patient
care. For more information, please visit www.ucsf.edu.
About Antigenics
Antigenics (NASDAQ: AGEN) is a biotechnology company working to
develop treatments for cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune
disorders. The company's investigational product portfolio includes
Oncophage(R) (vitespen), a patient-specific therapeutic cancer vaccine
being evaluated in several indications; Aroplatin(TM) (L-NDDP), a
liposomal, third-generation platinum chemotherapeutic; AG-707, a
therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of genital herpes; and QS-21, an
adjuvant being evaluated by Antigenics' corporate partners in several
late-stage clinical trials.
This press release contains forward-looking information,
including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential
ability to invoke immune responses in cancer patients; the
correlations between Oncophage treatment, immune responses, and
patient benefit and overall survival; the ability of cancer vaccines
to benefit certain patient populations such as those with minimal
residual disease; the likelihood of Oncophage to become a conventional
cancer treatment in the future; the safety profile of Oncophage;
future plans to publish trial data and results; and the demographics
for disease indications. These risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the risk that a small investigator-sponsored study in 12
patients is not representative of what will be shown in larger trials
that could support registration; timing and results of on-going and
future studies involving Oncophage; the ability and determination of
program collaborators to continue to pursue Oncophage programs;
decisions of regulatory authorities; and the factors described in the
Risk Factors section of Antigenics' Form 10-Q as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2007. Antigenics
cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These
statements speak only as of the date of this document, and Antigenics
undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements. All
forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety
by this cautionary statement. Antigenics' business is subject to
substantial risks and uncertainties, including those identified above.
When evaluating Antigenics' business and securities, investors should
give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.
CONTACT: Antigenics
Media Relations
Sunny Uberoi, 917-443-3325
suberoi@antigenics.com
or
Investor Relations
Robert Anstey, 800-962-2436
ir@antigenics.com