Dendreon cuts jobs, focuses on Provenge

Dendreon has announced that it will cut 34 jobs as it refocuses its resources on advancing its lead investigational drug Provenge to market. Provenge is a cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. In addition, the company announced that Michelle Burris, senior vice president and CFO, will be leaving. Rick Hamm, senior vice president, corporate development and general counsel will oversee financial functions and David Urdal, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief scientific officer, will oversee manufacturing operations.

"These changes will allow us to focus on accomplishing the critical activities necessary to see Provenge through the regulatory process and successfully commercialize this novel therapy that we believe could fundamentally change the treatment of patients with late-stage prostate cancer," said Mitchell H. Gold, M.D., Dendreon's president and CEO. Provenge has received Fast Track designation from the FDA.

- read this press release for more