German pharmaceutical company Merck (Darmstaad) has expanded its oncology pipeline through a co-development and marketing agreement with Biomira (Edmonton, Canada). Biomira could receive up to $150 million in up-front license fees, milestones, and equity for rights to two vaccines: Theratope, in phase III metastatic breast cancer trials, and BLP25, for non-small cell lung cancer (phase II). The vaccines boost the body's immune system against cancers by mimicking cancer-specific cell surface glycoproteins. A spokesperson for Biomira says that if Theratope is successful, not only could it become the first vaccine approved for cancer, but also its indication could be extended to include earlier stages of breast cancer and other solid tumors. In theory, Theratope could be effective in more patients than Genentech's (S. San Francisco, CA) and Roche's (Basel, Switzerland) Herceptin, which is effective in only a third of breast cancer patients. The vaccines fit well within Merck's growing portfolio of novel immunotherapeutic approaches to treating cancer, including antibodies, angiogenesis inhibitors, and cytokines. Biomira will share the cost of clinical development, but will also share profits on sales in North America and receive royalties on sales elsewhere.