The Colon Cancer Market is Large
The American Cancer Society estimates that 112,340 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in the USA in 2007, making colon cancer one of the most common forms of cancer related deaths.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, in Europe, almost 190,000 patients are newly diagnosed each year with colon cancer. Vaccinogen estimates, that roughly 40% of colon cancer patients today are diagnosed as Stage II cases.
By 2011/2012 when OncoVAX® is likely to be globally commercialized, the number of Stage II colon cancers diagnosed will represent almost 70% of all colon cancers. Approximately 75% of colon cancer patients receive surgery in the United States and European Community.
Although 80% of colon cancer patients present no evidence of residual tumor after surgery, 30% to 40% of those receiving surgery will relapse. Given that the total incidence of the disease is more than 320,000 patients in the US, Canada and Europe, approximately 110,000 patients will be eligible for adjuvant treatment of Stage II colon cancer with OncoVAX®, representing a sizeable patient potential for the vaccine.
Given the absence of therapeutic options available for Stage II colon cancer today and the lack of products beyond OncoVAX® in development, the market penetration of OncoVAX® is expected to be significant.