Oncophage approved in Russia for kidney cancer

NEW YORK-Antigenics Inc.’s personalized cancer vaccine Oncophage (vitespen) has received its first government approval. The Russian Ministry of Public Health has certified its use in kidney cancer patients at intermediate risk for disease recurrence, based on data from 604 patients showing a significant improvement in recurrence-free survival with Oncophage vs observation.

Derived from each individual’s tumor, Oncophage contains the “antigenic fingerprint” of the patient’s particular cancer and is designed to reprogram the body’s immune system to target only cancer cells bearing this fingerprint.