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First patient enrolled in Stimuvax(R) Phase III clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
First patient enrolled in Stimuvax(R) Phase III clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nEDMONTON, Feb. 26 /CNW/ - Biomira Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOM) (TSX: BRA) today\nannounced that the first patient has been enrolled in the global Phase III\nclinical trial, START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To NSCLC),\nassessing the efficacy and safety of Stimuvax(R) (BLP25 liposome vaccine) as a\npotential treatment for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell\nlung cancer (NSCLC). The trial is being conducted by Merck KGaA of Darmstadt,\nGermany, ("Merck") and its U.S. affiliate EMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant\nto the terms of a collaboration between Biomira and Merck. The collaboration\narrangement provides that Biomira is entitled to receive a milestone payment\nfrom Merck upon enrollment of the first patient in this trial. As per the\nterms of the collaboration, the amount of the milestone is not being\ndisclosed.\n\n\n"Enrolling the first patient in this Phase III trial is a major step\nforward for Biomira's therapeutic vaccine technology and represents an\nimportant milestone toward our goal of commercializing important new cancer\ntherapies," said Robert L. Kirkman, M.D., President and Chief Executive\nOfficer of Biomira. "To our knowledge, this is the first Phase III trial of a\ntherapeutic vaccine in unresectable stage III NSCLC, which, if successful,\nwould offer new hope for patients with limited options."\n\n\nDr. Kirkman added, "In 2007 we expect to make additional progress in\nadvancing our clinical pipeline. The Phase II trial of PX-12 in patients with\nadvanced pancreatic cancer is ongoing and we expect to bring PX-478 into\nclinical development at mid-year. With this progress, we are building a\ndiverse clinical portfolio of innovative potential cancer therapies, and\nmoving closer to realizing the value of our vaccine and small-molecule\nplatforms."\n\n\nAccording to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading\ncause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women worldwide with\napproximately 80 percent of lung cancer cases classified as NSCLC. Further,\nonly about 15 percent of people diagnosed with NSCLC survive this disease\nafter five years. For most patients with NSCLC, current treatments provide\nlimited success.\n\n\nEnrollment in the START trial, which is expected to include more than\n1,300 patients in approximately 30 coun...