Making large quantities of this vaccine is faster than with traditional production methods because the basic cells are able to be frozen and stored, the company said in a statement.
The NIH said the scientists who developed these stem cells lines have told the agency that the stem cells are viable and can be frozen and cultured and have been through more than one population doubling.
Patients who did not get Provenge did not receive a true placebo, but instead a sham version of Provenge followed by a frozen Provenge they could receive the treatment later on. (Provenge involves removing, altering, and replacing immune cells.) Patients who did get Provenge may have gotten placebo faster.