Olympian Mark Spitz Joins Battle Against Kidney Cancer

Olympic swimming legend Mark Spitz, whose father has suffered from kidney cancer, Antigenics, and the Kidney Cancer Association have joined in spearheading a campaign promoting kidney cancer awareness and education.

(PRWEB) April 23, 2004 -- Olympic swimming legend Mark Spitz, whose father has suffered from kidney cancer, Antigenics, and the Kidney Cancer Association have joined in spearheading a campaign promoting kidney cancer awareness and education. The nationwide educational outreach will focus on increasing awareness of kidney cancer and highlighting the need for new therapies.

"Having watched my father struggle with kidney cancer, it is of personal and profound importance to me to create greater awareness of this disease - especially among men, who are twice as likely to be affected," said Mark Spitz, who won a record-setting seven gold medals for the US in the 1972 Olympic games. "I am proud to support my father and all kidney cancer patients by serving as the first national spokesperson for the disease."

"With the 2004 Summer Olympics fast approaching, we are reminded of what an inspiration Mark has been for millions of Americans," said Garo H. Armen, PhD, chairman and CEO of Antigenics, a biotechnology company with a therapeutic, autologous kidney cancer product in development. "We are very pleased that Mark is joining us to raise awareness for this terrible disease, and hope that together we can help draw attention to the critical unmet medical needs of this patient population.

Antigenics is working to develop personalized immunotherapeutics and revolutionary treatments for cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. The company's lead product candidate is Oncophage® (HSPPC-96), a late-stage, personalized cancer vaccine being evaluated in several indications, including renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. Antigenics' portfolio also includes AG-858, a personalized cancer vaccine in Phase II development; Aroplatin, a Phase II liposomal chemotherapeutic; and AG-702/AG-707, a Phase I genital herpes program.