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Onyvax-P for Prostate Cancer –
Frequently asked questions
What is Onyvax-P?
Onyvax-P is a new investigational vaccine treatment designed to
stimulate the immune system to attack prostate cancer. Onyvax-P
consists of a combination of cell lines that are representative
of different stages of the disease. The cells have been inactivated
and cannot grow or reproduce to create a new cancer. Onyvax believes
its vaccine will be able to induce a powerful immune response against
a broad range of prostate cancer-associated markers.
For whom is Onyvax-P
intended?
Onyvax-P is being tested in patients whose prostate cancer has stopped
responding to hormone therapy and have rising levels of prostate
specific antigen (PSA).
It
is also being tested in patients at earlier stages of the disease
(hormone-sensitive) in the USA (click here for details - opens
a new window).
Where has it been tested?
Onyvax-P has been tested to date in the UK, USA, Ukraine, Latvia,
Estonia and Lithuania.
What are the results
so far?
Data on 26 evaluable patients has been reviewed to date. All of
these patients had hormone resistant prostate cancer with rising
PSA levels, and none had showed evidence of spread of the disease
to the bones by the start of vaccine treatment. 11 patients showed
a statistically-significant slowing of their PSA rise. Less than
half of the patients treated with Onyvax-P had shown evidence of
clinical disease progression within one year of recruitment to the
trial. Side effects have been mild, mainly skin reactions at the
sites of injection and mild, flu-like symptoms which usually cleared
within 24-48 hours. It is too early to say whether the vaccine will
prove successful, as this can only be answered through large-scale
clinical trials.
How is Onyvax-P given
and how long is the treatment?
Onyvax-P is given by injection into the skin. Injections are given
every month, and current trials involve one year’s worth of
treatment. No hospital stays are necessary as the vaccine is administered
at out-patient clinics.
When and where are new
trials going to start?
Click here to see all available information
about new trials.
Can I volunteer for a
trial?
We are not able to recruit patients to new trials until definite
start dates are confirmed. Click here to see
all available information about new trials.
Where can I get Onyvax-P?
As an investigational product, Onyvax-P is only available in the
context of a clinical trial. It can not be made available for sale.
Can Onyvax help me with
question about my disease?
The clinical trials are conducted by a separate clinical team. Onyvax
itself is not able to make any medical comments or to provide advice
on an individual basis.
Where can I find further
information?
Onyvax will make details of new clinical trials available on its
website – www.onyvax.com.
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