Cell Genesys Inc (CEGE) informed shareholders that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee [IMDC], which is currently testing VITAL-1 – the first of two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials, has completed a pre-planned interim analysis. In this report, the IDMC recommended that the company continue with the study of this treatment.

The IDMC provided no information to the company other than the recommendation to continue the trial.

Robert Dow, chief medical officer of Cell Genesys, stated, “We can currently estimate that we will reach the required number of events needed to conduct the final analysis in the second half of 2009.”

VITAL-1 is a controlled Phase 3 clinical trial designed to compare GVAX cancer immunotherapy to Taxotere (docetaxel) chemotherapy. This trial treats patients who are suffering from hormone refractory prostate cancer and seeks to increase their life span. The primary endpoint of the trial is an improvement in survival.

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