Biotech, cancer, Provenge

Dendreon Expects Interim Provenge Trial Results in October

Luke Timmerman 7/23/08

Dendreon, the developer of treatments to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer, said today it expects interim results in October from a clinical trial of 500 men with terminal prostate cancer. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: DNDN) said it hopes to use the data, which looks at whether Provenge can help men with the disease live longer, to support its application to the FDA to market the drug. A final analysis of the data expected in the second half of 2009 has a greater likelihood of success, although the interim analysis could allow the company to bring the therapy to the market faster, the company said. Dendreon shares rose 3.4 percent, to $6.02 at 10:09 a.m. Eastern time.