Antigenics shares extend gains on cancer vaccine data

May 11 (Reuters) - Shares of Antigenics Inc soared for a second day on Tuesday, as data from a mid-stage trial showed its experimental vaccine significantly extended survival in patients who were vaccinated following brain cancer surgery.

According to a scientific abstract from a brain tumor conference in Germany, the overall median survival was 44 weeks after surgery, and 94 percent of patients survived beyond the historical median of 26 weeks.

Also, about 70 percent of patients survived beyond 36 weeks and 41 percent survived up to or longer than a year.

The vaccine, Oncophage, was well tolerated with no serious adverse events.

The company is testing the vaccine in two mid-stage trials for the treatment of recurrent glioma.

Shares of the company were up 20 percent at $1.32 late Tuesday morning on Nasdaq, adding to Monday's 17 percent gain. They earlier touched a high of $1.45.

(Reporting by Anand Basu in Bangalore; Editing by Mike Miller) Keywords: ANTIGENICS/SHARES ([e-mail]; within U.S. [phone]; outside U.S. [phone]; Reuters Messaging:[e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.