Eisai Co. of Japan will advance into clinical trials with a promising candidate cancer vaccine. The vaccine has no major side effects so far in a small-scale trial on roughly 40 cancer patients in the U.S.

Eisai will progress to Phase I clinical trials in the U.S. in 2009.

After that is will be applying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for manufacturing and marketing approval and waiting for 7 years - 2016.

The Therapeutic cancer vaccines work by stimulating the patient’s immune system to fight cancer.

The strategy is expected to produce few side effects as compared with other cancer drugs.

The market for the drug (it’s always about money, eh?) growing into an annual market worth $3B in seven to eight years.

Eisai does not have much competition in the cancer commercial products.

Eisai’s cancer vaccine boosts the ability of the immune system’s T cells to attack cancer cells.

Phase I clinical trials will cover treatment of solid cancers - breast and colon.

Eisai hopes to generate $100s of millions annually once the drug is accepted in Japan and Europe, too.

It’s always about the money, eh?