Dendreon Corp fka DNDNQ

[rancherho]

This post and the video link by dendreonrich on the IVillage MB is worth repeating for IHUB readers.
Uncut video
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/639d0c2859cb46f2d4962c47388b36c9

There is apparently no sound track with the video. My separate commentary follows:
dendreonrich:

1. It seems that the first part of the video is the activities of Mr. Garcia, a long term AIPC survivor treated with Provenge, who spoke with Gold during a presentation at last year's ASM.

2. One of the processes shown is centrifuging. According to Dr. Small's Phase 2 report on the "method of Hsu" processing, this is done twice with a patient's leukapherisis product, and the result is washed after each centrifuge step to remove platelets. The resultant "immunity pellet" is then shown placed into a container with other growth media and some 10 micrograms per mL of the fusion antigen is injected into the solution that is then pulsed under proper heat and mixing conditions for 40 hours to expand the number and mature the dendritic antigen presenting cells. After another washing step, the product is then diluted with "Ringers solution" to make a readily infusable product (likely the final plastic bags being shown being placed into a freezer). The lab work done thereafter is probably just to illustrate the quality assurance testing done before its release to a clinic. The whole video appears to be shot at DNDN's Seattle facility.

3. This is the first that I have seen various steps in this process. I was told that one of the beauties of the process is that DNDN's processing, independent of the production of the fusion antigen, is its relative simplicity. Although processing is done on an individual dose basis, disposable plastic bags and containers are used in clean room conditions, so the required sterility and product purity is maintained, and yet, the process is relatively inexpensive and easily scalable. When I inquired about the possible use of some of the NCI's sophisticated T cell genetic engineering processes for the 50% of the Provenge dose that are T cell precursors, the response was that that might be tried in the future, but that the very simplicity of the present process and its applicability across a wide range of cancers with different antigens to achieve an initial plateau of efficacy for all addressable cancers strongly suggested that DNDN should rapidly try to get their vaccines in first use across many cancers while increasing efficacy later through more difficult and expensive processing steps. This uncut video seems to support this strategy.

4. This video was shown in the 2005 ASM. My concern with the message of the video is with the likely most expensive part of it, the artist's rendition of the process of the dendritic antigen presenting cells priming of T cells to attack cancer cells in vivo. The problem is that it is so simplistic that it does nothing to distinguish the fundamental differences in the method of action of DNDN's autologous vaccines, and that of the vaccines prepared in bulk for all patients using allogenic vaccines, recruiting dendritic cells at the site of injections, such as the GVAX vaccines of CEGE and the vaccines of Onyvax. Also, neither the video, nor DNDN itself, make any reference to the critical role that regulatory T cells play in the process, nor of the great strength of the DNDN approach, the longevity and persistence in vivo of the primed T cells as was reported with early results from the P11 trial. Minor criticisms on what if finsihed and polished could be an extremely valuable informational tool.

5. Overall, my congratulations on a fascinating and valuable post. You demonstrate once again how valuable the information that can be accessed through internet MB's can be.

Good luck to all DNDN longs.