Provenge News and Research

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NEJM: Perspectives from Aaron, Reinhardt, Iglehart, Annas, Chambers and others

This week's New England Journal of Medicine features perspectives from prominent authors on Medicare and Medicaid. NEJM granted KHN permission to excerpt substantial portions of these columns.

8 Apr 2011

Medicare moves to pay for Provenge

On Wednesday, Medicare officials signaled the federal insurance program will pay for this costly prostate cancer drug, a move that National Journal described as heading off "accusations that the [government] would be 'rationing' care."

1 Apr 2011

First Edition: March 31, 2011

In today's news, reports on continuing congressional efforts to reach a deal on the current-year budget and on a move by Medicare to cover Provenge, a prostate cancer drug.

31 Mar 2011

Prostate cancer drug and a new drug to prevent preterm births cause cost concerns, controversy

News outlets report on the political dilemma involved with Provenge — a cancer drug — as well as the impact that Makena — the medicine that can prevent preterm births — could have on the nation's high health care costs.

30 Mar 2011

FDA approves ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today its approval of a new treatment for advanced melanoma, the deadliest and most difficult-to-treat form of skin cancer.

28 Mar 2011

HemaCare reports $7.0 million revenue for fourth quarter 2010

HemaCare Corporation announced today that the Company generated fourth quarter revenue of $7.0 million and a net loss of $197,000, or $0.02/share, compared to fourth quarter 2009 revenue of $8.2 million and net income of $195,000, or $0.02/share.

14 Mar 2011

EvaluatePharma data shows poor R&D productivity measures both in quality, quantity

Pharmaceutical R&D productivity is consistently undercounted. Most reports fail to fully count the number of new drugs that reach the market, missing out on billions of dollars of sales generated by R&D investment, an analysis of EvaluatePharma data shows.

14 Mar 2011

CIC to host Scientific Colloquium on tumor immunotherapy in National Harbor, MD

The Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium, a program of the nonprofit Cancer Research Institute, will host its 2011 Scientific Colloquium March 17-19, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

11 Mar 2011

RPCI offers first FDA-approved cancer treatment vaccine

The nation's first FDA-approved cancer treatment vaccine, Provenge, is being offered for the first time in Western New York at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

15 Feb 2011

Dendreon provides U.S. commercialization and European strategy updates for PROVENGE

Dendreon Corporation today announced several updates regarding the U.S. commercialization of PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T), the European strategy for PROVENGE, and progress on its pipeline.

7 Jan 2011

Study suggests unexpected role for NLRP3 protein in cancer vaccine development

The promise of vaccines targeted against various types of cancer has raised the hopes of patients and their families. The reality, however, is that these promising treatments are difficult to develop. One of the challenges is identifying a discrete cellular target to stop cancer growth without inactivating the immune system. Scientists at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center report a laboratory finding that has the potential to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

15 Dec 2010

Medicare committee recommends expensive drug for some prostate-cancer patients

A new treatment for prostate cancer called Provenge won a vote of confidence from a Medicare coverage advisory committee Wednesday, suggesting the federal program is likely to pay for the $93,000-per-patient medicine.

19 Nov 2010

Expert panel to endorse newly approved therapeutic vaccine for advanced prostate cancer

Provenge is one step closer to being covered by Medicare. An expert panel voted Wednesday to endorse the newly approved therapeutic vaccine for men with advanced prostate cancer.

19 Nov 2010

Medicare roundup: Payment cuts irk healthcare industry; officials mull new prostate-cancer treatment

Doctors across the United States are taking a wait-and-see approach while Congress decides whether or not to allow a scheduled 23% cut in Medicare reimbursement rates to take effect on Dec. 1.

17 Nov 2010

Dendreon requests licensure for additional capacity to manufacture PROVENGE at New Jersey facility

Dendreon Corporation today announced that it has completed the submission of the post-approval supplement to the PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) Biologics License Application for the Morris Plains, New Jersey manufacturing facility. Dendreon is requesting licensure for an additional 36 workstations to manufacture PROVENGE. The standard U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review for a post-approval supplement to a Biologics License Application is typically four months.

11 Nov 2010

CMS to review cancer vaccine, analysis shows high Medicare drug spending not correlated with better care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are conducting an unusual review to determine whether the government should pay for an expensive new vaccine for treating prostate cancer, rekindling debate over whether some therapies are too costly.

9 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 8, 2010

Today's health policy headlines include more post-mortem reports about the health law's impact on the election.

8 Nov 2010

ImmunoCellular develops ICT-107 cell-based vaccine for GBM treatment

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, today announced that it has developed an innovative method for manufacturing the company's lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

13 Oct 2010

NeoStem signs merger agreement to acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy

NeoStem, Inc. an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China and Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC a privately held cell therapy company that serves the cell therapy industry from licensed, state-of-the art cell therapy manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and California today jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement whereby NeoStem will acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy.

24 Sep 2010

Patheon, Dendreon announce signing of technology transfer agreement

Patheon, a global provider of drug development and manufacturing services to the international pharmaceutical industry, announced today that it has signed a technology transfer agreement with Dendreon Corporation for commercial supply of proprietary density gradient solutions required during the PROVENGE (sipuleucel-T) manufacturing process.

6 Aug 2010