Stimuvax(R) Phase II data highlight three-year survival results for patients with non-small cell l...( EDMONTON Sept. 5 / Biomira Inc. (...)

EDMONTON, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Biomira Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOM) (TSX: BRA) today announced the presentation of three-year survival results from a randomized Phase II trial of the Stimuvax(R) MUC-1 vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results suggest that Stimuvax combined with best supportive care (BSC) may provide survival benefits to patients with unresectable stage IIIB NSCLC who had either responded or had stable disease after initial radio-chemotherapy, compared with patients receiving BSC alone. Dr. Charles Butts, from the Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta and lead investigator of the Phase II study presented the data yesterday (Abstract # B1-01) at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

The updated survival results show that approximately twice as many patients were still alive at three years in the Stimuvax arm compared with BSC alone (49% (n=17) vs. 27% (n=8)), representing a 45% reduction in mortality. As previously reported, patients with stage IIIB locoregional disease who received Stimuvax in this trial also experienced a 17.3 month difference in median survival compared with patients receiving BSC alone (30.6 months vs. 13.3 months, respectively). Patients receiving Stimuvax in this trial also reported mild to moderate side effects limited to flu-like symptoms, gastro-intestinal disturbances and mild injection site reactions.

"The updated survival data are encouraging and support the need for further investigation via the ongoing Phase III trial of Stimuvax as a maintenance therapy for patients with advanced lung cancer," commented Dr. Butts.

Based on the Phase II res
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