MyVax Fails Phase III Trial for Follicular NHL

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Genitope's MyVax fails Phase III trial

Silicon Valley / San Business Journal

* Genitope's MyVax fails Phase III trial, company's shares drop

[East Bay]

Genitope Corp. said its MyVax personalized therapy to attack cancer

tumors failed a Phase III trial for patients previously untreated for

follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The stock of the Fremont-based company (NASDAQ: GTOP) closed down 39

percent, at $2.59 per share -- a new 52-week low.

There was no statistically significant difference in halting

progression of the immune system cancer by patients receiving MyVax

compared to patients receiving a control substance, the company said.

Genitope said 287 patients were involved in the study.

Patients first received chemotherapy to reduce the tumor, followed by

a six-month rest period. They then received MyVax, which uses the

genetic makeup of tumors to create customized vaccines.

" While we recognize that the regulatory path would be clearer had the

trial met its primary endpoint, we are pleased with the outcome of the

trial, " said Genitope Chairman and CEO Dan Denney.

MyVax recently started Phase II for follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,

or fNHL, following primary treatment with rituximab and chemotherapy.

It also is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of MyVax in treating

patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL.

Genitope reported earlier this month that two preclinical studies in

animals showed that its monoclonal antibody program that could treat

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma posted good data in proof-of-concept animal

studies.

San Francisco Business Times