Celldex Therapeutics Inc. is abandoning its late-stage study of brain cancer vaccine Rintega after an independent analysis suggested it may not show a significant benefit in patients when compared to standard chemotherapy, reported Reuters.
According to the Reuters report by Natalie Grover, an independent data safety and monitoring board estimated that the overall survival in patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) who were given Rintega was on par with those in the control group.
Celldex was informed of the failure of the Rintega phase III study ─ known as ACT IV ─ March 4.
Celldex said it was discontinuing the study on the board's recommendation and did not expect to incur substantial additional costs; however, Celldex shares more than halved to $3.76 in premarket trading Monday, March 7.
The vaccine, Rintega, belongs to an emerging class of drugs that spur the immune system to recognize and attack cancer. It targets tumors with a genetic mutation found in about one-third of all GBM cases.