Avant says brain cancer vaccine has wider promise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A promising vaccine to treat brain cancer developed by Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc may also hold promise against numerous other types of cancer, Interim Chief Executive Anthony Marucci said in an interview.

Researchers on Monday said Avant's vaccine, licensed by Pfizer Inc in April, more than doubled the survival time in patients, with the most common and deadly type of brain tumor in a clinical trial.

Marucci, whose company is guaranteed an undisclosed double- digit royalty on Pfizer's future sales of the product, said the world's largest drugmaker has the money and could have the desire to greatly widen the scope of research on the vaccine.

For treatment of brain cancer alone, Marucci said the vaccine could garner annual U.S. sales of at least $500 million and have significant sales potential in overseas markets.

(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Andre Grenon)